Preview, Match Day #22: LA Galaxy take the field against a familiar Finals foe, DC United

If it weren't for DC United, the LA Galaxy could have added two more MLS Cup titles to their resume. But instead, their opponent ousted them in the championship game in both 1996, the inaugural season, and 1999.

The defending MLS Cup winners can extract a measure of revenge for those losses on Saturday when the two teams meet again.

Alas, the Los Angeles Galaxy are playing some decent soccer as of late. They have gone 2-2-1 in their last five games after starting the season on a 16-game winless streak. DC United is currently on a winless streak of their own having not won since May 31st.

The LA Galaxy can accomplish something that it hasn't done all season.

On May 31, the Los Angeles Galaxy finally tasted victory after a regular season match. With a 2-0 shutout against Real Salt Lake, they no longer had a zero in the win column.

They almost followed that game up with another win. However, Jaoa Klauss of St. Louis City SC had other ideas. His third goal of the game in stoppage time at the end of the game foiled the LA Galaxy's plans to win. Both teams settled for a 3-3 draw.

A 2-0 shutout loss on the road to the Colorado Rapids derailed the small momentum shift that head coach Greg Vanney and his players were able to start. They regrouped nicely thanks to a second half score from veteran midfielder and former Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus.

They tied the San Jose Earthquakes, 1-1, to end June with a record of 0-2-1 that month. The July fourth game was all fireworks as the LA Galaxy erupted for a 3-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps.

In the LA Galaxy's last match, Joseph Paintsil scored twice. Matheus Nascimento scored first. The last time he scored first, another teammate also found the back of the net two times. Gabriel Pec did that against St. Louis last month.

The LA Galaxy have a chance to do something like that again. Those are the only two games that the six-time MLS Cup champions have scored more than two goals.

They face a DC United team that enters Saturday's game having been on the receiving end of three straight shutouts. That doesn't sound as bad as the 7-1 trounching from the Chicago Fire before that stretch.

Marco Reus, Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, and Matheus Nascimento are all expected to start this weekend. Look for Serbian goalkeeper Novak Micovic to be in the Starting XI, as well. He started in goal during the Galaxy's other victory, too.

That gives the LA Galaxy their best chance, perhaps, to win consecutive games for the first time this season and keep any glimmer of a postseason berth alive. A loss or a tie could end that dream as the Galaxy would only have 12 games to their season left after Saturday.

How to watch the LA Galaxy vs DC United match this weekend?

Per usual, this regular season will be available on MLS Season Pass. It will also be broadcast on the Apple TV and Apple TV+ platforms.

DC United has struggled to score as of late, but Christian Benteke has more goals than any LA Galaxy player. He has six on the season. He and Gabriel Pirani could give the host team fits on Saturday.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific Time) and 10:30 p.m. (Eastern Time). The game will be played at Dignity Health Sports Park, where they went unbeaten in all 16 regular-season contests there last year.