Los Angeles Galaxy and St. Louis City are seeking their first wins of the season in MLS.
Two winless teams in the 2025 Major League Soccer season meet on Sunday at Dignity Health Sports Park as the Los Angeles Galaxy host St. Louis City. While the defending MLS Cup champions aim to put an end to their early-season slump, St. Louis hope to secure their first victory under new manager Olof Mellberg.
It has been a rough start to the season for Greg Vanney’s side, as they remain pointless after two matches, suffering a 2-1 defeat to the Vancouver Whitecaps last weekend. The Galaxy are currently on a three-match losing streak across all competitions, and another defeat this weekend would mark the first time Vanney has lost his opening three league games since taking charge in 2021.
Despite leading the Western Conference in goals (69) last season, the Galaxy have managed to score just once in MLS this year. Their attack, once among the league’s most feared, has yet to find its rhythm.
Additionally, LA did not lose a single home MLS match in 2024, but now they risk suffering consecutive home defeats for the first time since April 2023. One worrying trend for the Galaxy is their inability to recover from early setbacks — they have lost four of their last five regular-season matches when conceding first, with their only comeback win in that span coming against the Colorado Rapids (3-1) last October.
On a positive note, LA won four of their final five regular-season matches last year when scoring in the second half, but they have yet to find a late goal in MLS this season. New St. Louis City boss Olof Mellberg remains unbeaten since taking charge, though his team has looked uninspired in attack.
They played out a 0-0 draw against San Diego FC last weekend, marking their second consecutive goalless draw to start the season. While their defensive stability is a positive, their attack has yet to click, as St. Louis have failed to register a single goal this season, managing only two shots on target against San Diego in their last match.
Despite their offensive struggles, they have now kept back-to-back clean sheets and could secure three consecutive shutouts for the first time in club history with another strong defensive performance.
However, their away form remains a major concern — since their final regular-season road match in 2023, St. Louis have won just one of their last 19 away league games (2-1 vs. San Jose Earthquakes in September 2024). Even when scoring first last season, they failed to win six away league matches, dropping 14 points from winning positions.
One encouraging stat for St. Louis is their unbeaten record against LA Galaxy in MLS. They have never lost to the Galaxy in four prior meetings, though they have let multiple-goal leads slip at Dignity Health Sports Park, surrendering a 2-0 lead in a 2-2 draw in 2023 and a 3-1 lead in a 3-3 draw last season. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy continue to deal with several injury concerns heading into this fixture. Miki Yamane, Joseph Paintsil, and Matheus Nascimento were all absent in their previous match due to thigh injuries, while midfield maestro Riqui Puig was forced to sit out with a knee injury.
Additionally, Mauricio Cuevas remains sidelined with a hamstring strain, limiting head coach Greg Vanney’s options. Last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps saw Zanka and Harbor Miller make their MLS debuts, while Isaiah Parente featured for the first time in the 2025 season. Meanwhile, Gabriel Pec opened the club’s scoring account for the year, netting LA Galaxy’s first goal of the season after a well-worked assist from Miguel Berry just before halftime.
Vanney is expected to set up his side in a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Novak Micovic starting in goal. The backline will feature Carlos Garces at right-back, while Zanka and skipper Maya Yoshida form the centre-back pairing, and Julian Aude slots in at left-back.
In midfield, Gabriel Pec, Edwin Cerrillo, and Diego Fagundez will provide creativity and defensive stability, while Marco Reus will play in an advanced midfield role, orchestrating play and supplying the forwards. Leading the attack will be Christian Ramírez and Miguel Berry, tasked with breaking down a resilient St. Louis City defence that has yet to concede a goal this season.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Micovic; Garces, Zanka, Yoshida, Aude; Pec, Cerrillo, Fagundez; Reus; Ramirez, Berry
St. Louis City
St. Louis City will be without several key players for their clash against LA Galaxy. Jayden Reid remains sidelined due to a sore foot, while Joakim Nilsson continues to recover from a knee injury. Additionally, Jake Girdwood-Reich is dealing with an ankle issue, and Rasmus Alm remains unavailable as he recovers from a sore hip.
Timo Baumgartl was an unused substitute in the 0-0 draw with San Diego FC as he battled an illness, and his availability remains uncertain. Despite these absences, Conrad Wallem made his first MLS start last weekend, while Celio Pompeu returned to action for the first time since June 2024. Meanwhile, captain Roman Burki registered his 17th career MLS clean sheet, highlighting St. Louis’ defensive resilience.
Head coach Olof Mellberg is expected to set up his side in a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Roman Burki continuing as the first-choice goalkeeper. The three-man defence will feature Kyle Hiebert, Henry Kessler, and Jannes Horn, forming a solid backline tasked with containing LA Galaxy’s attacking threats.
In midfield, Tomas Totland and Celio Pompeu will operate as wing-backs, providing both width and defensive coverage. Akil Watts and Eduard Lowen will take control in central midfield, aiming to dictate play and break up opposition attacks.
Further forward, Joao Klauss will occupy the attacking midfield role, linking up with the strike duo of Simon Becher and Cedric Teuchert, who will lead the line in search of St. Louis City’s first MLS goal of the season. Their ability to press high and take advantage of LA Galaxy’s defensive vulnerabilities will be crucial in securing their first win of the campaign.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Burki; Hiebert, Kessler, Horn; Totland, Watts, Lowen, Pompeu; Klauss; Becher, Teuchert
Ways to Watch
Key Stats
- The defending MLS Cup champions have started the 2025 season with two consecutive losses and are currently on a three-match losing streak across all competitions. Another defeat would mark the first time Greg Vanney has lost his first three league games since becoming head coach in 2021
- Last season, the Galaxy did not lose a single MLS home match at Dignity Health Sports Park. However, they now risk suffering back-to-back home defeats for the first time since April 2023
- Since their final regular-season away match in 2023, St. Louis have won just one of their last 19 MLS away games (2-1 vs. San Jose Earthquakes in September 2024), highlighting their poor form on the road
- Despite their struggles, St. Louis remain unbeaten in their four prior MLS meetings with the Galaxy. They have, however, let multiple-goal leads slip at Dignity Health Sports Park, surrendering a 2-0 lead in a 2-2 draw in 2023 and a 3-1 lead in a 3-3 draw last season.
- The Galaxy have lost four of their last five regular-season matches when conceding the opening goal, with their only comeback win in that stretch coming against Colorado Rapids (3-1) last October.
Player to Watch
Marco Reus
Veteran playmaker Marco Reus is set to be a key figure for LA Galaxy in their pursuit of a first win this season. The former Borussia Dortmund star brings a wealth of experience, creativity, and leadership to Greg Vanney’s squad, and his influence in the final third could be decisive.
Despite the Galaxy’s slow start to 2025, Reus has the ability to unlock defences with his vision and technical prowess. His ability to operate between the lines, deliver incisive passes, and contribute with his finishing will be vital against a St. Louis City side that has yet to concede a goal this season.
With LA Galaxy’s attack struggling, Reus will be expected to provide the creative spark, linking up with Gabriel Pec, Cristian Ramirez, and Miguel Berry in the final third. His movement off the ball and set-piece expertise could also be crucial in breaking down St. Louis City’s defensive block.
If LA Galaxy are to bounce back and claim their first points of the season, Reus will likely be at the heart of their attacking play, dictating tempo and creating chances for his teammates.
Prediction
Los Angeles Galaxy 1-1 St. Louis City
The Galaxy’s attacking struggles combined with St. Louis City’s defensive resilience suggest a tight contest. While the home side will be eager to break their losing streak at home, St. Louis have proven difficult to beat in this fixture. The Hard Tackle predicts a 1-1 stalemate for Sunday’s game.
