CARSON, Calif. – The task is a familiar one for the defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy entering Friday’s MLS regular-season opener against the Chicago Fire at StubHub Center (7 p.m., UniMas).

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The Galaxy would love to maintain the status quo, starting with making sure their home field remains an almost impregnable fortress, and get in position for another title run. But a tough challenge awaits them as they embark on their quest for a fourth MLS Cup in the last five seasons.

First and foremost, Landon Donovan retired not only as Major League Soccer’s all-time leader in regular-season goals and assists but as the holder of a record six MLS Cups. Midfield stalwart Marcelo Sarvas was traded to the Colorado Rapids.

The Galaxy also know they’re going to get their opponents’ best every time they take the field, but that’s nothing new. They’re ready as always, starting with adding to their home dominance.

“We need to continue to do the same (thing we did last year),” Robbie Keane told reporters. “We need to make sure that this place is difficult for players and teams to come.

“We want them to not enjoy coming here and know that it’ll be a difficult game when you play against the LA Galaxy.”

StubHub Center has resembled a house of horrors for opponents since the Galaxy won the first of their consecutive championships in 2011.

Since that season, the Galaxy have lost just nine regular-season games at home. A year ago when they won their record fifth title, the Galaxy lost just once at home – the season opener to Real Salt Lake – finished 12-1-4 at home and outscored opponents 44-14 at StubHub Center.

Can the Galaxy maintain that excellence? Do they have what it takes to mount a successful title defense? Players sounded optimistic about such chances, but don’t ask head coach Bruce Arena for his opinion.

“I haven’t given it any thought, to be honest with you,” he said. “You get your team ready for the first game, you play the season, you move along and see what needs to be done every step along the way to make your team better. It’s usually decided at the end of the season, from what I can tell.

“I think it’s comical when I see teams talk about that. It doesn’t make any sense right now talking about winning MLS Cup. It’s a long way away.”

The Galaxy, who open against a Fire team that finished ninth in the East last season, return the likes of Keane and Gyasi Zardes, who combined for 35 goals and 16 assists and much of an offense that scored a league-high 69 goals. There also is a defense that allowed just 37 goals (tied for fewest overall with D.C. United) and is anchored by goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, who had eight shutouts. Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard arrives this summer to further bolster the midfield.

Versatile defender A.J. DeLaGarza said the Galaxy are prepared for the season that awaits them.

“Everyone’s gunning after you,” he said. “You’re going to get everyone’s best game. It’s just hard when you’re going to get everyone’s best game and you have to be at your best 34 plus games. That’s not easy.

“A lot of us have done it before, and I don’t think it’s anything we can’t handle. We have to make sure when we’re playing well we have to make sure we don’t think we get too high on ourselves and think we’re going to run over this league.”

Added forward Alan Gordon, who provided a spark off the bench in the stretch run last year following his acquisition from San Jose, “It’s a tough league, first and foremost. I don’t think it’s easy to do what this team’s done. But I think we have a solid squad and will be in contention.

“It’s always a tough task to win the championship. I think we’ll still be good and find ways to put together a good squad. Bruce is a master at doing that. I have confidence in that regard.”

Game Notes

LA GALAXY vs CHICAGO FIRE
STUBHUB CENTER, Carson, Calif.
March 6, 2015 (WEEK 1, MLS Game #1)
7 p.m. PT (UniMas)

Major League Soccer’ 20th season kicks off on Viernes de Futbol as the defending champion LA Galaxy play host to the Chicago Fire on Friday evening at StubHub Center. It was just three months ago that the Galaxy lifted the MLS Cup Trophy for a record fifth occasion, winning MLS Cup 2014 against the New England Revolution. They take on a Chicago Fire club looking to return to the postseason for the first time since 2012.

Though the game will be broadcast in the United States on Spanish-language channel UniMas, an English-language version of the broadcast can be accessed via the SAP button (click HERE for instructions), and both English and Spanish-language broadcasts will be available online at deportes.univision.com.

• DOWNLOAD FULL GAME GUIDE (PDF)

REFEREE: Jair Marrufo. AR1 (bench): Frank Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Corey Rockwell; 4th: Alejandro Mariscal
MLS Career: 175 games; FC/gm: 23.4; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 34; pens: 51

SUSPENDED: none
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (39 meetings): Galaxy 19 wins (0 shootout), 51 goals … Fire 15 wins, 45 goals (1 shootout) … Ties 5
AT LA (19 meetings): Galaxy 10 wins (0 shootout), 27 goals … Fire 6 wins, 20 goals (1 shootout) … Ties 3

LAST YEAR (MLS):
6/1: CHI 1, LA 1 (Larentowicz 68 – Donovan 74)

• This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
• The Galaxy have not lost to the Fire since 2010, a 3-2 Chicago victory in Carson on Aug. 1. In the six meetings since, the Galaxy have won with two draws. The teams played to a 1-1 tie at Toyota Park in their only meeting last season.
• The Fire have not defeated the Galaxy in Bridgeview since 2008, with two draws and three losses in home meetings since.
• Coaches record: Bruce Arena vs. CHI: P18 W11 L4 D3 … Frank Yallop vs. LA: P24 W9 L8 D7

LA GALAXY
The defending MLS champion LA Galaxy kick off their new season off an historic fifth MLS title, having defeated the New England Revolution 2-1 in extra time on their own ground barely three months ago. The Galaxy finished with the second-best league record in 2014, with 61 points, three behind Supporters’ Shield winners Seattle Sounders FC.

TEAM NEWS

• The defending MLS champion Galaxy concluded their preseason with a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes in the first match played at Avaya Stadium in San Jose on Saturday, the goals coming from Robbie Keane and Jose Villarreal. The Galaxy ended the preseason with a 5-2-0 record.
• Here’s the Galaxy team for the preseason finale: Brian Rowe; Dan Gargan, Leonardo (Todd Dunivant 46’), Omar Gonzalez, Robbie Rogers (Andre Auras 83’); Bradford Jamieson IV (Jose Villarreal 63’), Juninho, Kenney Walker (Rafael Garcia 71’), Stefan Ishizaki; Robbie Keane, Alan Gordon.
• Three first-team regulars – Jaime Penedo, Baggio Husidic and Gyasi Zardes – as well as trialist Edson Buddle, all missed out on the San Jose match due to injury.
• The Galaxy begin the 2015 season riding a 16-game league undefeated streak at StubHub Center, their last home loss in regular season play coming in last year’s season opener, a 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake on March 8.
• “I don’t think that we’re quite there yet to be honest with you. Some players have played 90 minutes which has certainly helped for next week, but I don’t think that we’re there yet,” said Keane. “This is what preseason is for though because the results don’t matter. … You want to put things into practice for the upcoming season, but conceding goals especially on set pieces shouldn’t happen.”
• Before the Earthquakes match, the Galaxy embarked upon a two-match European tour. They defeated Republic of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers FC 1-0 in Dublin, on a first-half goal from Mika Vayrynen. Previously, the Galaxy lost 2-1 to Hammarby IF in a match played in Stockholm, Robbie Keane converting a penalty for the lone goal.

TRANSACTIONS IN: GK Brian Perk (re-signed); MF Rafael Garcia (re-signed); MF Steven Gerrard (free, arrives in July)
TRANSACTIONS OUT: MF Landon Donovan (retired); FW Rob Friend (retired); GK Brian Perk (option declined); DF James Riley (option declined); DF Kyle Venter (waived); FW Chandler Hoffman (Re-Entry Stage 2 Draft); MF Marcelo Sarvas (traded to Colorado)

CHICAGO FIRE
The Chicago Fire are looking to make their first appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs in three seasons when they start their second campaign under head coach Frank Yallop. The Fire recorded an MLS-record 18 draws a year ago on their way to a ninth-place finish in the Eastern Conference with 36 points.

TEAM NEWS

• The Fire ended their preseason schedule with three draws in three matches in the Simple Invitational in Portland, including draws against both the host Timbers (1-1) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1-1), the finale on Saturday.
• The Fire concluded their preseason with a 1-0-4 record. The Fire set an MLS record with 18 draws in 34 league matches in 2014.
• Here’s the Fire team from the preseason finale: Sean Johnson, Lovel Palmer, Jeff Larentowicz, Eric Gehrig, Joevin Jones, Harry Shipp (Kingsley Bryce 82), Chris Ritter (Matt Polster 72), Shaun Maloney, Matt Watson (Michael Stephens 67), Kennedy Igboananike (Shahdon Winchester 68), Quincy Amarikwa.
• The match against the Timbers in the Portland event was the first of the preseason against an MLS side for the Fire. The club’s lone tally came through an own goal.
• The Fire concluded the preseason with three goals from their five official preparatory matches. Quincy Amarikwa and trialist Shahdon Winchester netted goals, the third coming from an own goal.
• The Fire conceded just two goals in their preseason matches, beginning the preparation matches with three consecutive clean sheets, all against European opposition (Norwich City FC, Queens Park Rangers [both England]; Stabaek IF [Norway]).
• “I think there have been multiple back lines and everyone who's played has been part of the clean sheets,” defender Jeff Larentowicz said. “I think at this point the coaches are looking for the best combination ... Some guys played longer minutes so I think we're moving toward a back four, but again everybody is kind of in the mix there.”
• Designated Player David Accam missed out on the final two preseason matches after suffering a groin injury in the match against Stabaek IF in Portland. Accam returned to Chicago for treatment ahead of the team’s return following the tournament.

TRANSACTIONS IN: MF Collin Fernandez (Homegrown); FW Kennedy Igboananike (transfer from AIK); DF Joevin Jones (transfer from W Connection); MF Michael Stephens (free); DF Eric Gehrig (trade from Orlando City); FW David Accam (transfer from Helsingborgs); DF Patrick Doody (Homegrown); DF Adaílton (transfer from Bahia); FW Guilherme do Prado (free); MF Shaun Maloney (transfer from Wigan); MF Alex (re-signed); GK Jon Busch (free); DF Matt Polster (SuperDraft)
TRANSACTIONS OUT: MF Logan Pause (retired); FW Robert Earnshaw (option declined); FW Matt Fondy (option declined); DF Marco Franco (option declined); DF Patrick Ianni (option declined); MF Benji Joya (loan expired); DF Hunter Jumper (option declined); DF Steven Kinney (option declined); MF Victor Pineda (out of contract); DF Gonzalo Segares (option declined); FW Florent Sinama-Pongolle (option declined); MF Grant Ward (loan expired); DF Bakary Soumare (Re-Entry Stage 2 Draft); MF Sanna Nyassi (Re-Entry Stage 2 Draft); FW Juan Luis Anangono (transfer to Universidad de Guadalajara); GK Kyle Reynish (traded to New York Red Bulls)