Why the LA Galaxy should be thanking the Houston Dynamo?

The Los Angeles Galaxy still remain in first place of the Western Conference without having to play a game this past week. The are currently enjoying a 13-day rest, in addition to their position as the best team in the West.

As a result of their cross-town rival, LAFC, not being able to secure a win in either of their last two games against the same opponent, the LA Galaxy have the comfort of a four point lead in the standings.

The Houston Dynamo defeated LAFC 2-0 back on Saturday, August 31st. They managed to wrap up the rematch with a 0-0 draw giving each team just one additional point in the Western Conference Standings.

The LA Galaxy were not able to capitalize playing against one of the teams in the bottom of their conference, St. Louis City. They dropped a 2-1 contest the next day on Sunday, September 1st. That loss prevented the Galaxy from building upon their lead.

What does this mean for the LA Galaxy vs. LAFC game on Saturday?

Since the Los Angeles Galaxy have four points on LAFC, even if they lose on Saturday, they would still hold a one-point lead in the Western Conference Standings. A tie would only maintain the spots in the standings.

If the LA Galaxy were to secure the win, however, it would give the five-time MLS Champions a seven-point lead with just a handful of games left in the 2024 season.

Dejan Joveljic, Gabriel Pec and Riqui Puig have been some of the best performances for the LA Galaxy offense. Pec and Puig have both combined for 20 goals and 21 assists on the year. They have made the LA Galaxy one of the league's most feared offenses.

Joveljic also has 12 goals on the season and five assists in his 22 matches this year. After missing nearly two months, the Serbian forward returned to action as a sub against St. Louis City. Joveljic came into the game for the squads newest member, Marco Reus.

In his first game with the LA Galaxy, Reus wasted no time in contributing to the Galaxy's scoring ways. During the 2-0 victory against Atlanta United, the German soccer player added an assist and a goal of his own during his MLS debut.

These are the efforts that Head Coach Greg Vanney will be calling upon in the third meeting this year between the two teams. The Los Angeles Galaxy lost to LAFC on Independence Day, 2-1, during the first week of July. In the matchup prior to that one, both Los Angeles faced off the first week of April with the same result.

Big saves from goalkeeper John McCarthy will be needed to prevent LAFC from outscoring the Los Angeles Galaxy, again. The defense has allowed 38 goals this year. That is 15 less than they have scored.

In what should be another close game in the history of the 'El Trafico Derby' could easily be a glimpse of the MLS Western Conference Finals. Thanks to the Houston Dynamo, the Los Angeles Galaxy will remain in first place regardless of the result on Saturday.