CARSON, Calif. – The 2018 MLS Regular Season is nearly upon us.
On the heels of the announcement of the league’s schedule on Thursday, LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano offers his top five matches that he’s looking forward to in 2018.
Portland Timbers at StubHub Center (March 4)
The LA Galaxy were knocked off their perch in 2017 and will have their first opportunity to get back to the top when they host the Portland Timbers on March 4.
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The home opener will be Galaxy fans first opportunity to see the new squad under head coach Sigi Schmid. After the team finished with the worst record in club history, they’ll have a chance to start their season on the right foot in front of the Galaxy faithful.
Los Angeles won’t be the only team in transition as Portland will head to StubHub Center led by new coach Giovanni Savarese after the departure of longtime boss Caleb Porter in the offseason.
LAFC at StubHub Center (March 31)
The Clásico Angeleno is reborn.
The LA Galaxy will meet LAFC for the first time in the club’s histories when the league’s newest club comes to StubHub Center in late March. Under the stewardship of Bob Bradley, the noisy neighbors have assembled a talented squad that will be eager to challenge the Galaxy’s place in the league and in the City of Angels.
Whether you’re interested in rivalry or the matchup between Giovani and Jonathan dos Santos vs. Carlos Vela, simply get out to this match.
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Atlanta United at StubHub Center (April 21)
Atlanta United took Major League Soccer by storm in their first season, and they’ll make their first visit to StubHub Center in late April.
Led by renowned head coach Tata Martino and boasting such talents like Miguel Almirón, Josef Martinez, and Darlington Nagbe, Atlanta quickly gained a place among the league’s glamour sides a year ago. The match figures to be a crucial one for Los Angeles early in the season, particularly, as they look for a little revenge after falling 4-0 to the first-year club in Atlanta in 2017.
If the Galaxy are to return to the postseason, it’ll be vital to earn points from sides like Atlanta when they visit StubHub Center.
LA Galaxy vs. LAFC at Banc of California Stadium (July 26)
There’s no match circled in brighter ink on LAFC’s calendar than when the LA Galaxy head to Banc of California Stadium in July.
The league’s newest entrants will host their first-ever Clásico Angeleno on Thursday night in a match televised on ESPN. Regardless of the date, the 22,000-seat venue should be packed to the brim with fans of both squads for their late summer matchup.
I, for one, can’t wait to make the trip.
Seattle Sounders FC at StubHub Center (Sept. 23)
The LA Galaxy are desperate to return to the postseason after a lean 2017, and their September tilt against the rival Seattle Sounders FC will be of vital importance to those hopes.
Sigi Schmid stated multiple times a year ago that he needed to make teams “fear StubHub Center” again making matches like the one against the Sounders critically important. The Sounders provide a perfect example of Schmid’s point as after years of struggles at StubHub; they have excelled at the venue going 2-0-1 in their last three trips.
As we look ahead, don’t be surprised if the match carries significant postseason implications for both squads.
