LA Galaxy vs LAFC Odds & Prediction (April 16)
By Ryan Metivier in Soccer News
Published:
- MLS Week 8 concludes on Sunday evening with the biggest game of the weekend when the LA Galaxy host LAFC at 4:30 pm EST
- LAFC are favorties to win this El Trafico rivalry at +135 in the LA Galaxy vs LAFC odds
- Read on for our LA Galaxy vs LAFC prediction here
It’s the first El Trafico meeting of the season, after an earlier scheduled match this season was postponed due to poor weather and pushed into July. So on Sunday, April 16, one of MLS’s fiercest rivalries with renew in a standalone MLS Week 8 match. We have our MLS picks and the LA Galaxy vs LAFC odds for the match below.
LA Galaxy vs LAFC Odds
| Matchup | Moneyline |
|---|---|
| LA Galaxy | +180 |
| LAFC | +135 |
| Draw | +240 |
LAFC are the +135 road favorites in the MLS odds on Sunday, while the home side LA Galaxy are +180 underdogs. The draw is priced at +240. The total of 2.5 goals in the game is juiced to -155 on the Over, while the Under returns plus-money at +125. Despite being favored to win the game, LAFC are still a big price of +370 to win by two goals on the spread of -1.5. Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook.
LA Galaxy vs LAFC Preview
The Galaxy were already spiralling entering last week’s match with the Houston Dynamo and things only got worse, much worse. They lost 3-0 and and both Martin Caceres and Douglas Costa took ridiculous cards that saw them ejected from the game and therefore both will miss out here.
LA is one of just two winless teams and are tied with Colorado and Montreal for the second-fewest goals scored with three entering Week 8. Only SKC has a worst goal haul of only two.
Chicharito returned from a hamstring injury last week in a substitutes role and played 35 minutes. If Greg Vanney decides to play a two striker system with he and Dejan Jovelic up top, maybe, the Galaxy can convert some of their 102 (third-best) shot attempts into actual goals. That’s a big “if” though.
3 – LA Galaxy's 3 points through 6 games equals its fewest at this stage of a season (1997) while its 3 goals are the fewest its ever scored after 6 games of an MLS season. Woe. pic.twitter.com/aqW2PXeCw4
— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) April 9, 2023
LAFC are one of two remaining undefeated teams and have allowed just three goals in six games. LAFC have been held off the scoresheet in both road matches this season and will be coming off a short week having just played in the CCL on Wednesday.
But take out one CCL defeat to Alajuelense and LAFC haven’t lost another game since the last game of the regular season last year.
Denis Bouanga is coming off a hat-trick versus Austin last week and now has six goals on the season and that’s not counting his goals in the CCL as well. He actually has five goals in his past three games.
LA Galaxy vs LAFC History
Will recent scorelines stay the same for these rivals? Last year the Galaxy won at home 2-1 in MLS and 3-1 in the US Open Cup. LAFC won at home 3-2 in the MLS regular season and also 3-2 in the playoffs. A road team hasn’t won in the last nine meetings and not since August 2020. Both teams have scored in each of the past seven meetings and both teams have scored with three or more goals in each of the past four.
Games between these rivals always create fireworks with recent scorelines of 3-2, 3-2, 3-1, 2-1, 1-1, 3-3 and 2-1. Only 3/17 all-time meetings have failed to see goals coming from both sides.
Denis Bouanga is setting the tone. ☝️
With 11 goals across all competitions this season, can anyone slow him down? pic.twitter.com/ZmkIV8Wpir
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 13, 2023
LA Galaxy vs LAFC Team Lineups and Injuries
Here are some projected lineups and injuries for Sunday’s game based on recent starting XIs. However, LAFC could so some rotation after playing the CCL.
LA Galaxy Projected Lineup: Klinsmann; Edwards, Neal, Leerdam, Calegari; Brugman; Boyd, Puig, Delgado, Rodriguez; Jovelic
Injuries & absences: Martin Caceres, Douglas Costa, Jonathan Bond
LAFC Projected Lineup: Jakupovic; Palacios, Long, Murillo, Hollingshead; Acosta, Ilie, Tillman; Bouanga, Opoku, Vela
Injuries & absences: Crepeau
LA Galaxy vs LAFC Head-to-Head Stats
| 0-3-3 | Record | 4-2-0 |
| 3 / 9 | Goals For/Against | 12 / 3 |
| 8.4 / 8.1 | xG/xGA | 10.2 / 4.7 |
| 102 / 28 | Shots/On Target | 98 / 32 |
| 48 | Corners | 38 |
| 57.5% | Average Possession | 48.3% |
LA Galaxy vs LAFC Prediction
There’s no scoring, players missing and even Supporters’ Groups that are revolting against this version of the LA Galaxy. It would be so very MLS for the Galaxy to pull an upset here, but every trend and stat makes LAFC the play this week in our LA Galaxy and LAFC prediction.
LA Galaxy vs LAFC Picks: LAFC win (+135)
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Sports Editor
Ryan is SBD's resident soccer pro, though his repertoire is by no means limited to a single sport. His articles have been published by the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Kitchener Rangers, and outlets like SportsXpress and Shredthespread.com
