LA Galaxy & Inter Miami: Top two teams could be last ones standing

Going into the final game of the regular season, the top two teams in their respective conferences, the Los Angeles Galaxy and Inter Miami are poised to earn their berth to the 2024 MLS Finals.

These two teams are all too familiar with each other. Despite there being over 2,700 miles between these franchises, they could be on another collision course against each other.

Match #1 of the 2024 MLS Regular Season for the Galaxy pitted Inter Miami against the host, Los Angeles Galaxy. On February 25, 2024, the game ended in a tie as the star for both clubs found the back of the net.

After a scoreless first half, LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic scored first in the 75th minute. Galaxy midfielder Marky Delgado, unfortunately, was issued a red card twleve minutes later. This shifted momentum to the visiting Inter Miami team.

During stoppage time in the second half, Lionel Messi added his first goal of the season to even the score. As the 2024 progressed, now it looks like a likely possibility that a rematch could happen for the league's grandest prize.

Both Joveljic and Messi have missed time as a result of injuries. Joveljic is tied for the team lead with Gabriel for most goals (15). Messi has 17 goals and contributed to 15 more (32 points).

No matter what, if these two teams are the last ones standing, Inter Miami will have homefield advantage as they have 71 points entering Decision Day 2024. No team can catch up to or surpass them atop the MLS Standings.

How have the Galaxy and Inter Miami finished the season?

While the LA Galaxy have won five of their last seven games, they have dropped two games against teams with a lesser record then them. The Portland Timbers, despite their strong offense, were multiple spots below the Galaxy in the Western Conference.

St. Louis City SC was the other squad to defeat the Western Conference front runners. Inter Miami has had a stronger showing the past two months.

Their only two losses since mid-August have come to FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew. Those two soccer clubs are the third and second best team in the Eastern Conference, respectively.

By the time the playoffs start, the Los Angeles Galaxy hope to have their midseason addition, Marco Reus, back on the field. He is recouping from a hamstring injury. This is similar to the one Joveljic sustained earlier in the year.

Be that as it may, the front office for Major League Soccer may have actually lined up the stars for the LA Galaxy's first opponent this season to also be their last. This time, the result will not be a shared victory. Instead, it will be the MLS Championship Title.