Preview, Matchday #1: LA Galaxy vs. San Diego FC

The 30th MLS regular season is already underway this weekend. Sunday afternoon marks the beginning for the Los Angeles Galaxy's sixth title defense.

This season will look rather different than last year. No longer with the team are midfielders Gaston Brugman and Marky Delgado, in addition to defender Jalen Neal and forward Dejan Joveljic.

As well, the LA Galaxy are facing an opponent that they have never seen before. On Sunday, San Diego FC officially enters the league with their first regular season game ever.

How to watch the LA Galaxy vs. San Diego FC game?

The game will start at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Coast Time and 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Los Angeles Galaxy have not lost a game at Dignity Health Sports Park since the 2023 regular season.

The defending MLS champs went unbeaten in all 16 home games during the regular season that were played in Carson, California. Furthermore, they went an astounding 4-0 at home in the postseason including the 2024 MLS Cup Finals.

Sunday's game between the LA Galaxy and San Diego FC can be seen on MLS Season Pass, and both Apple TV and Apple TV+, as well.

Expected Starting XI for the LA Galaxy

John McCarthy is expected to return as the starting goalie for the Los Angeles Galaxy. He will be backed up by Novak Micovic, and possibly Brady Scott and TJ Marcinkowski.

The defense returns veterans Maya Yoshida and Miki Yamane. John Nelson is also expected to start and potentially one of the team's many newcomers, Mathias Jorgensen.

With Riqui Puig still recovering from his ACL surgery, look for Diego Fagundez and Edwin Cerrillo to return to the Starting XI. Former Dortmund star, Marco Reus could be the third midfielder in the lineup.

Also recovering from injury is Joseph Paintsil. Of the LA Galaxy's top four scorers last season, only Gabriel Pec will be in the lineup Sunday. Expect him to be joined up top by forward Cristian Ramirez and Ruben Ramos, Jr.

That would leave Axel Essengue, Carlos Garces, Eriq Zavaleta, Julian Aude, Mauricio Cuevas and Harbor Miller as potential subs for the defense. Isaiah Parente, Tucker Lepley and Matheus Nascimento and Miguel Berry are midfielders or forwards available to replace the starters.

Notable names on San Diego FC

Perhaps the most household name on their roster is winger Emmanuel Boateng. He brings the expansion team lots of experience.

As a member of the 2020 Columbus Crew, he was a part of their championship season. He played 10 games for the franchise.

Boateng should also sound familiar to the LA Galaxy fan base. The Accra, Ghana native was a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy from 2016-2019. In more than 100 appearances, he scored nine times.

This roster also boasts a trio of soccer players that hail from Denmark. Midfielder Jeppe Tverskov as well as forwards Marcus Ingvartsen and Anders Dreyer all join Boateng on San Diego FC.

Prediction for LA Galaxy vs. San Diego FC (2/23/2025)

While this is not the same high-scoring, high-octane offense that we saw from the Los Angeles Galaxy, a majority of their defense returns. Gabriel Pec and Cristian Ramirez will be tasked to do most of the scoring until Paintsil and Puig return from separate setbacks.

John McCarthy being in goal for the LA Galaxy was a strong reason that this team went from only losing eight games last season. They had won just eight games the year before.

After going 1-2-1 at the Coachella Valley Invitational earlier this month, the LA Galaxy have figured out their strengths in this lineup. Realistically, this game should go in favor of the defending champs.

The Los Angeles Galaxy are 3-2-1 in their last six season openers. Their one loss in that span came on the road during the 2023 season when wins would become hard to come by.

For the first time in three years, Dejan Joveljic won't be scoring during the Galaxy's season opener. Instead, look for either Gabriel Pec or Cristian Ramirez to find the back of the net. The same goes for Miguel Berry or Marco Reus.

Los Angeles Galaxy 2, San Diego FC 1.