The Seattle Sounders are hosting the LA Galaxy on Sunday in a clash at the top of the Western Conference. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 6 p.m. PT at Lumen Field.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on FS1.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2021 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Seattle: 1-1-0 (4 points, 2nd West), LA: 2-0-0 (6 points, 1st West)
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Sounders and Galaxy played to a 1-1 draw last November at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. Javier “Chicharito” Hernández opened the scoring for the hosts in the 78th minute before a Raúl Ruidíaz stoppage-time equalizer sent Seattle home with a road point.
BATTLE ATOP THE WEST: The Sounders and Galaxy enter Week 3 as the top two teams in the Western Conference. Seattle produced a dominant home win over Minnesota before earning a valuable road point at LAFC. LA, meanwhile, went to Miami and got a come-from-behind win before holding off the New York Red Bulls in Carson.
NEW KIT DEBUT: Sunday marks the first time Sounders FC will sport the new Jimi Hendrix Kit in an official competition. Learn more about the story behind the club's new norm-shattering uniform HERE.
LONE SIX-POINT TEAM: Parity reigns supreme again in Major League Soccer. Of the 26 teams who have played twice, only the Galaxy have won both of their matches.
LODEIRO SIGHTING? After missing the first two weeks of the season with a left quad strain, Sounders captain Nicolás Lodeiro may make his 2021 debut this weekend. Seattle has missed the dynamism of one of the league’s elite players and 2020 MLS Best XI selection, but 19-year-old Homegrown Josh Atencio has held his own in the meantime trying to fill some incredibly large shoes.
WINGBACK INVOLVEMENT: One of the key factors to the success of Head Coach Brian Schmetzer’s new 3-5-2 formation is the attacking involvement and impetus of his wingbacks. That was especially evident in Saturday’s draw at LAFC, as left wingback Brad Smith scored his first club goal, while his counterpart Alex Roldan led the team with 25 passes in the attacking half. Roldan and Smith led Seattle in touches as well with 82 and 81, respectively.
CHICHA ON FIRE: Chicharito has dominated the first two weeks of the season. He recorded a brace against Miami before bagging a hat trick last weekend. His five goals are three more than anyone else in the league, and he’s scored all but one of LA’s goals so far. Chicharito’s success, or lack thereof, this weekend will almost certainly determine the result.
LLETGET SUSPENDED: The Galaxy will be traveling to Seattle without key attacking weapon Sebastian Lletget, who will serve the second of his two-match suspension that he received for using a homophobic slur in an Instagram post. Lletget is one of the best U.S. midfielders in MLS and will be a huge hole to fill for manager Greg Vanney.
NEW MAN IN CHARGE: Speaking of Vanney, the longtime Toronto FC head coach is off to a flying start with the club where he spent seven seasons as a player. After departing TFC this past offseason, Vanney makes his first trip back to Seattle since losing MLS Cup 2019 with the Reds in the third of three MLS Cup battles he and Schmetzer had in a four-year span.
