Los Angeles Galaxy are having their poorest spell in MLS since 2020. They've lost five games in succession, conceded 15 goals in their last four matches, and have a defense that seems like it's made of paper. However, only in this light will the team host cross-town rivals LAFC on Sunday at Dignity Health Sports Park, in the first leg of El Tráfico in 2025.
On one hand, LAFC are riding a crushing 4-0 win over Seattle Sounders and are fifth in the Western Conference with 21 points. On the other, they have a dismal away record and face a team that enjoys nipping when everyone believes it will swallow. Ignoring that would be silly.
Galaxy crumble, but they're still alive in the derby
Galaxy's campaign has been rocky. Apart from five straight defeats, the team has lost in close to a month and a half. The defense is a mess: 31 goals conceded this term, nearly half of them within the last four matches alone. The 3-2 loss at Philadelphia Union mid-week suggested there's some response, though there is a feeling that derby could be the chance to respond.
Not because of tactics or cohesiveness, but because of tradition. Galaxy have taken two of the last three El Tráfico matches at home, including last year's 4-2 victory in Carson. The team can feel the rivalry. And this kind of game has a way of balancing things out.
There's a name, too, that could make all the difference: Christian Ramirez. The team's top goal scorer this season with four tallies, the old LAFC striker knows firsthand the other side of the story. He wore the Black & Gold in 2018 and 2019, tallied six goals there, and now seeks to make up for it by wearing his neighbor's uniform.
LAFC on top of their game, but cautious
In town, the story is different. LAFC comes in good form after their 4-0 drubbing of Seattle Sounders, playing good team ball and having a streak of six wins in their last nine Galaxy derbies. The offense is humming: eight goals in the past three games among six different players. The diversity of the attack is amazing and reflects a deadly, assured team.
But all is not well. Playing on the road, LAFC have won just once in six games for this MLS season. They've conceded 14 of their 18 goals outside Los Angeles. Indeed, they lost their previous two road games against California clubs.
And there's an emotional component that shouldn't be underestimated. Midfielder Mark Delgado, a former member of the rival, will face his first El Tráfico as an LAFC player. He played 91 games for the rival between 2022 and 2024, scored five times, assisted 14, and won an MLS Cup.
Rivalry at boiling point
Since its beginning in 2018, El Tráfico has been one of the most red-hot gameup in the league. The record is close: Galaxy has 10 wins, LAFC has 9 wins, and they have 5 ties. But it's the drama that makes this rivalry more than just a game. Unpredictable games, comebacks, scandals, and dramatic performances. In 2023, the Rose Bowl was packed with 82,110 fans who watched Galaxy beat 2-1. It was the largest attendance ever in MLS for a single game.
What an enigma that LAFC have never held the advantage of the series. A win on Sunday would tie the series for the third time. The chance to level the score finally makes the game more burdensome. And all the more so because in this shared existence of six out of seven seasons, LAFC led the standings higher. And yet this rivalry has managed to demonstrate that standings and favorites do not necessarily mean winning.