LA Galaxy are struggling for quality following injuries to two of their most influential players in Joseph Paintsil and Ricard Puig which makes Marco Reus’ role in the side even more crucial. Reus found the target three times in his most recent MLS fixture against St Louis and also found the target in the previous CONCAF Cup encounter. Reus has featured as part of a midfield three, off the left hand side and as a 10 for LA Galaxy already this season which suggests that Greg Vanney is still finding the best position in which to platform the former Dortmund star. Reus averaged 0.84 shots on target across his 11 appearances in the MLS last season, his quality is clear to see even at the age of 35 and he should find a way to get control of the game as he has done in previous weeks even with his side yet to get a win on the board yet in the early stages of this MLS campaign.

Cerrillo sits right at the heart of LA Galaxy’s midfield and has committed eight fouls across his four appearances in the MLS this season (2.30 per 90). He’s very combative in the middle of the park as backed up by his foul record but also by the fact he’s already picked up two yellow cards across the opening four games of the season. Cerrillo picked up eight yellow cards across his 38 appearances in the MLS last season whilst averaging 1.68 fouls committed per 90. Minnesota are likely to match LA Galaxy for numbers in midfield here seeing as they prefer to play with a 5-3-2 formation with plenty of physicality in the middle of the mark. This should see Cerrillo contest plenty of duels early on and commit a foul in the first half as the most likely player to sin for the away side. He’ll be up against Hassani Dotson who averaged 1.32 fouls won per 90 across his 32 appearances in the MLS last season.

The majority of Minnesota’s games so far this season have been quite tight affairs but they showcased a very different side of their game last time out as they drew 3-3 with Sporting KC. This shows that up against the right opposition, Minnesota are likely to come out and do have the scoring power to hurt opposition sides. LA Galaxy have seen over 1.5 goals in each of their four games in the MLS so far, they’ve only scored two goals themselves whilst conceding eight. This defensive inconsistency could be an avenue to success for Minnesota who will be encouraged by the fact that LA Galaxy are yet to win a game in the early stages of the MLS campaign. Over 1.5 goals has landed in the last nine head to head meetings between these sides in a run that stretches all the way back to 2021. Looking at the more recent encounters between these sides last year, there were 15 goals across the three games (5.0 per game). This game is unlikely to produce that level of goalmouth action given how pragmatic Minnesota have been at times but there is certainly scope for at least two match goals here.

LA Galaxy are yet to win a game in the MLS this season, Greg Vanney’s side have lost three and drawn one of their opening set of games. This could spiral quickly if LA Galaxy aren’t able to get some points on the board as soon as possible but a trip to a stubborn Minnesota side may not give them the opportunity to do so. Minnesota have lost just one of their opening four games of the MLS season which was against the best side in the Eastern Conference in Inter Miami. They’re quite tough to break down, often lining up in a 5-3-2 shape which limits space in the middle of the park for the opposition and forces them wide, an area of the pitch where LA Galaxy aren’t the strongest. Minnesota avoided defeat in 11 of their 17 home games last season whilst LA Galaxy only managed to win six of their 17 games on the road last campaign. Their slow start to this campaign shows no signs of changing anytime soon given the players they’re missing in important positions which should see Minnesota come away with at least a point here, if not all three.

BTTS landed in all three meetings between these sides last year. Those three games were really entertaining, producing 15 goals in total (5.0 per game) which suggests that there should be fireworks in this one. LA Galaxy are missing some of the firepower that helped them in those meetings last year, namely Joseph Paintsil who scored 14 goals last season. The influence of Ricard Puig is also missed in the middle of the park but there are small signs of progression following a disastrous start to the season for LA Galaxy. They recovered from a first leg defeat to progress in the CONCAF Cup, scoring four goals in the process and picked up their first domestic points of the campaign in a 1-1 draw with Portland. This still isn’t enough to suggest that LA Galaxy have fully recovered from their laboured start to the season and Minnesota will take confidence from the fact that Greg Vanney’s side are yet to keep a clean sheet in any of their six games across all competitions this season. This should see the home side carve out a few chances before being matched by LA Galaxy who have shown some fight in recent weeks following a tough start to the season.

Pereyra features as part of Minnesota’s midfield three, of the trio he is the most likely to get forward as displayed by his shot record this season. Pereyra has had seven shots across his 219 minutes of MLS football this season (2.88 per 90), picking up an assist in this time as well as generating an xG of 1.24. Pereyra’s will be encouraged to get forward and have attempts at goal when considering how flat LA Galaxy have been in their early performances in the MLS this season. Greg Vanney’s side are yet to keep a clean sheet across any of their six games in all competitions this season. LA Galaxy appear to be controlling games in terms of possession but can’t seem to stop the opposition generating chances. This will benefit Minnesota who are set up to be hard to break down before springing forward quickly on the counter attack. This was most evident in LA Galaxy’s 3-0 defeat to St Louis in which LA Galaxy had 70% of the ball but still allowed their opponents to register 14 shots on goal with an xG of 1.98.

Yoshida will be a familiar name to fans of the Premier League, the former Southampton centre back now lines up as part of a back four for LA Galaxy, partnered by another former Premier League defender in Mathias Jorgensen who was at Brentford a few seasons ago. Yoshida has committed three fouls across his four appearances in the MLS this season (0.78 per 90). He’ll be tested regularly here up against a front two that are usually a handful for MLS backlines. Given that Minnesota play with a two striker system, Yoshida will likely have a direct duel with one of these attackers - likely to be Tani Oluwaseyi. Oluwaseyi has scored twice across the opening four games of the MLS season as well as winning six fouls across these opening few fixtures (1.89 per 90). He’ll be a handful for Yoshida to handle who averaged 0.75 fouls committed per 90 across his 39 appearances last season.

Both of these sides have averaged 4.0 shots on target per game or higher across their opening four games of the MLS season. Minnesota have been slightly better in this department, averaging 4.8 shots on target per 90 to LA Galaxy’s 4.0. LA Galaxy seem to control games in terms of possession but can’t stop the opposition carving out chances against them, even when they don’t have a foothold in the game. St Louis demonstrated this perfectly, managing five shots on target and walking away 3-0 winners, despite only having 30% possession. LA Galaxy averaged 6.3 shots on target per game in the MLS last season, more than any other side in the competition. Minnesota weren’t too far behind in averaging 5.1 shots on target per game last campaign. This selection landed in all three head to head matches between these sides last season.