Starting XI

David Bingham; Rolf Feltscher, Daniel Steres, Jorgen Skjelvik, Ashley Cole ©; Perry Kitchen, Servando Carrasco; Chris Pontius, Sebastian Lletget, Emmanuel Boateng; Ola Kamara.

Substitutions

Justin Vom Steeg, Tomas Hilliard-Arce, Emrah Klimenta, Dave Romney, Baggio Husidic, Ariel Lassiter, Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Lineup notes

• It’s soccer time in Los Angeles on Saturday, with a nationwide audience on FOX and Fox Deportes between the five-time MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy and LAFC in what will be be their first-ever meeting.
• LA Galaxy Head Coach Sigi Schmid will welcome back Ola Kamara from international duty, but will still be without four starters (Alessandrini, J. Dos Santos, G. Dos Santos, Ciani) in the starting lineup. He will, however, welcome an up-and-coming Swedish striker in the 18 who just arrived Thursday. 
• In net, the solid David Bingham will start in net. He is truly a guardian of the Galaxy(‘s net) – I’m very sorry – and is coming off a solid performance in Vancouver that saw him earn his first shutout for LA.
• Out wide on the right side of the defense is Venezuelan international, owner of beautiful hair and speaker of six languages, Rolf Feltscher. Feltscher once posed for LA Yoga Magazine and voluntarily decided to remove his shirt, and they put him on the cover of the magazine. The offseason acquisition will look to steady the right back position after a revolving door of players last season.
• In the center of the defense, Norwegian Jorgen Skjelvik makes his fourth-straight start after joining the Galaxy this offseason. The Norwegian has some wheels to boot and has looked like a fine offseason acquisition. Many consonants, so few vowels.
• Defender Daniel Steres will round out the central defender pairing. Steres has made 51 MLS starts since joining LA after developing through LA Galaxy II. Daniel Steres is coming off of a MLS Team of the Week award, which is basically better than winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Out wide on the left, he’s ageless, timeless, LA beach-less, defender Ashley Cole. The 37 year old will captain the side Saturday after having been one of MLS’ most consistent defenders over the last two years.
• In the central of the field, Servando Carrasco will make his second-straight start after an extremely solid performance in midfield that shutdown Vancouver’s attack in Vancouver. Servando is disciplined, consistent and disciplined. He’s also disciplined.
• Don’t like cooking? That’s okay. You can still witness great Kitchen skills as Perry Kitchen makes his fourth start on Saturday (Really sorry for that – you should really stop reading these immediately). If you can’t take the heat, then get away from the Kitchen, because he is putting together a recipe for success. Again, really sorry for these bad puns, but Kitchen has been really good this year at playing soccer for the Galaxy.
• Out wide on the right, making his first start for the LA Galaxy is Chris Pontius, who has the best first name in Major League Soccer, bar none. Pontius has 45 goals and 29 assists in MLS play and will be a key component Saturday for the squad.
• In the center of the field, Sebastian Lletget will make his second-straight start after nearly a full year of action away from the field while recovering from an injury. Lletget is looking to regain the form that had him burst on to the USMNT scene last year.
• Out wide on the left, he’s incredibly short, but also incredibly fast: Emmanuel Boateng makes his 50^th start as a member of the LA Galaxy. He will be the fastest player on the field Saturday. He put in a great performance in the Galaxy’s home opener at StubHub Center and will look to replicate that Saturday.
• Up top, fresh off of a hat trick on international duty with Norway is The PantherOla Kamara. Kamara has 35 goals in just 65 appearances in MLS, giving him one of best ratios in MLS. 

Game notes

• The Galaxy enter the match 1-1-1 overall with three goals scored and three goals conceded this season.
• This year at home, the Galaxy have gone 1-0-0 with two goals scored and one conceded.
• The Galaxy hold an all-time record of 313-235-147, with 631 goals scored and 650 assists recorded.
• LA have gone 17-11-8 during the month of March during their 23-year history.
• LA Galaxy Head Coach Sigi Schmid has gone 231-173-118 during his 19-year coaching career in Major League Soccer.
• Saturday will mark the first-ever match with the newly rebranded LAFC side.

Storylines

• How will the Galaxy fare with the absence of three DPs?
• Will Ola Kamara continue his strong form from international duty?
• Can the midfield duo of Kitchen/Carrasco shut down an LAFC attack that scored five in their last outing?
• How will Chris Pontius, Seb Lletget and Ema Boateng combine in the midfield?
• Will Zlatan play?
• When will Zlatan play?
• How long will Zlatan play?
• Will Zlatan score a goal?
• Will a Zlatan goal go viral?

Quick Hits

• Match Preview pres. by Welch's
• Five things to know
• PHOTOS: Zlatan's first day
• Behind The Scenes: Zlatan's arrival
• The lion is hungry

Song Lyrics: California Dreamin' — The Mamas & The Papas

All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)

And the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)

I've been for a walk (I've been for a walk)

On a winter's day (on a winter's day)

I'd be safe and warm (I'd be safe and warm)

If I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)

California dreamin' (California dreamin')

On such a winter's day

Stopped into a church

I passed along the way

Well, I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)

And I pretend to pray (I pretend to pray)

You know the preacher like the cold (preacher like the cold)

He knows I'm gonna stay (knows I'm gonna stay)

California dreamin' (California dreamin')

On such a winter's day

-The Mamas & The Papas (1965)