Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chivas USA: 10 Bold Predictions

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy continue their 2013 Major League Soccer campaign when they host Jose Luis Sanchez Sola’s Chivas USA in the first leg of the Honda SuperClasico. Chivas USA are coming off a 3-1 victory over FC Dallas. However, the Galaxy are coming off a 4-0 whitewash of the Chicago Fire and a 4-1 thumping of Club Sport Herediano in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Aug 12, 2012; Carson, CA, USA; Chivas USA forward Casey Townsend (14) attempts a header against the Los Angeles Galaxy during the second half at the Home Depot Center. The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the Chivas USA 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

There will be plenty of action, bad blood, and goals. Some may see this as an opportunity for Chivas to inject life into their club with a potential Upset of the Week. The View from Avalon makes its rebuttal on such possbilities with two words: Get Real.

Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday, Mar. 17 at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET and will be televised by UniMas. Here are 10 Bold Predictions for the match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA.

1. It’s Robbie Keane Time!

It’s St. Patty’s Day, peoples. That means LA’s token Irishman, Robbie Keane, will be keen to bag home a brace, if you know what I mean. His leadership and on-ball and off-ball movement have been stellar, and Keane will have a blast slicing apart the Chivas defense.

2. Mike Magee returns with a vengeance

There won’t be any hat trick heroics from Mike Magee this time around, but the way he influences a game is impressive. Magee will score on Sunday, but the question will be as to whether or not he will do it up top or as a midfielder. The View from Avalon predicts that Magee will score as a forward.

3. Try this line-up formation for LA!

The Los Angeles Galaxy will operate a 4-4-2, with Mike Magee and Robbie Keane up top, and the tandem of Marcelo Sarvas and Juninho in the middle. Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza, Leonardo and Todd Dunivant are in the back, and Carlo Cudicini makes his fourth start this year.

1 Carlo Cudicini

20 A.J. DeLaGarza —- 4 Omar Gonzalez —- 22 Leonardo —- 2 Todd Dunivant

5 Sean Franklin —- 8 Marcelo Sarvas —- 19 Juninho —- 11 Colin Clark

18 Mike Magee — 7 Robbie Keane (C)

4. Big Day Out for Colin Clark

Mar 13, 2013; Carson, CA, USA; The Los Angeles Galaxy celebrate after the game against C.S. Herediano at the Home Depot Center. The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated C.S. Herediano 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

One player that needs to step up and contribute for the Los Angeles Galaxy is midifleder Colin Clark. The acquisition from the Houston Dynamo has seen plenty of time in league action but has yet to earn an assist or goal. Colin will get one of each, and it will be late in the second half.

5. Juninho with two set piece assists

As Juninho takes more and more set pieces, it is apparent that he will get better with his placement and positioning. Juni won’t score any goals on Sunday from distance, but he will get a couple of assists to help the Galaxy on St. Patrick’s Day.

6. Under five saves for Carlo Cudicini

Even though Chivas USA scored a breakthrough victory last weekend, the Galaxy are miles above FC Dallas in terms of talent. Thanks to a solid effort from the backline, LA goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini will need to make less than five saves.

7. Domination in key stats

There are a number of key match statistics that the Los Angeles Galaxy are boldly predicted to dominate. Those statistics are as follows: attempts on goal, shots on target, open play crosses, corner kicks, duels won, duels won percentage and possession. If the Galaxy can win these statistics, this will fulfill the prediction of the contest being decisive (see below).

8. No goals for Chivas USA

Mar 13, 2013; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy head coach Bruce Arenas before the game between the Los Angeles Galaxy and C.S. Herediano at the Home Depot Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

El Chelis, quite frankly, can throw everything and a few kitchen sinks at Los Angeles. But the Galaxy are good at taking every opponent seriously as well as breaking up possession at will due to the strength of the backline and Brazilian midfield tandem of Juninho and Marcelo Sarvas. Many of the new players from Mexico who play for Chivas USA have never faced the Galaxy in person, so for those players, this will be a crash course intro. There will be no goals for Chivas USA on Sunday against Los Angeles.

9. Over 25 fouls and under five yellows issued

But there will be fouls and cards, as these two necessarily evils are part of the game, part of officiating the game, and so on and so forth. The View from Avalon boldly predicts that over 25 fouls will be whistles and under five yellow cards with no reds will be issued.

10. A decisive victory for the Los Angeles Galaxy

These types of contests are muscle-flexing exercises. This can be seen as the Galaxy taking on the Club Tijuana reserves all over again. Only this time, points are at stake. This match will be a replay of the Chicago game. Los Angeles will cruise to victory.

Los Angeles Galaxy 4, Chivas USA 0