By Justin Ruderman
The Galaxy will play for an opportunity to make it to the Knockout Stage, but it will not be easy. They will need a win against Santos Laguna but then a lot of help with the other results to advance.
HEAD TO HEAD
- 3rd meeting all-time
- Santos knocked Galaxy out of the 2016 Concacaf Champions Cup 4-0 on aggregate following a scoreless first leg in Los Angeles.
- Record at Leagues Cup: Galaxy (3-4), Santos (1-6)
LAST FIVE GAMES
- LA Galaxy
- 2 Wins, 2 Draws, 1 Loss
- Defeated Tijuana 5-2 in their opener but then lost in penalties to Cruz Azul
- Santos Laguna
- 1 Wins, 0 Draws, 4 Losses
- Eliminated from contention following losses to Colorado and Seattle
MAIN STORYLINES
- Reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy are unlikely to reach the playoffs, sitting dead last in the Western Conference table this season. Leagues Cup is the G’s biggest chance to lift a major piece of silverware this season.
- Fate rests in Galaxy’s hands if they can take three points off Santos Laguna with a sufficient goal difference, or other necessary tiebreaking metric, to book a spot in the quarterfinals.
- Following consecutive 2-1 losses against the Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders FC, Santos have already been eliminated from Leagues Cup 2025.
- Experience LIGA MX manager Fernando Ortiz is in his first full season as Laguneros boss after taking charge of over 100 matches during stints at América and Monterrey.
- This is the final match of Phase One play in Leagues Cup 2025 and the second match of a doubleheader at Dignity Health Sports Park, preceded by Cruz Azul vs. Colorado Rapids.
KEY FACTORS
- LA Galaxy
- Star playmaker Marco Reus has 10 goal contributions in his last 10 games in all competitions. The German icon is the hub of Galaxy’s attacking creativity.
- As Riqui Puig continues to recover from an ACL tear, fellow “Killa P’s” Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec have picked up the slack in Leagues Cup with 4g/1a combined in LA’s first two Phase One matches.
- Santos are in a poor run of form with four consecutive losses and only pride to play for. Capitalize by scoring early to create a mental advantage.
- Santos Laguna
- After graduating from the club’s academy, captain Carlos Acevedo has spent his entire professional career with Guerreros. The former Mexican international goalkeeper is back available after suspension in Seattle.
- Longtime MLSer Christian Dajome is hitting his stride with Laguneros, scoring twice in his first five games of the season, including Santos’ lone goal in their last game against the Sounders.
- Just as they did against the Rapids, Santos can catch Galaxy disorganized defensively if they hit quickly on the counter. Verticality is nothing new for a Fernando Ortiz team.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
Simple: Expect the unexpected.
On paper, this is a matchup between the reigning MLS Cup champions and the last-place finisher in both the 2024/25 LIGA MX Apertura and Clausura campaigns. But Santos are one point below the playoff line in the young 2025/26 Apertura season, meanwhile, Galaxy prop up the Western Conference standings at the foot of the table. Anything can happen.
Still, Laguneros only have pride to play for as they seek their first point of Leagues Cup 2025. The hosts, however, have fate in their own hands.
As one of five MLS teams on four points, three points would likely be enough for the G’s to secure a quarterfinal spot, but padding their goal difference might also be necessary. Either way, it is up to LA to ensure their knockout berth.
Both Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney and Santos manager Fernando Ortiz set up their teams to be the protagonists in any match. Which will take the initiative on Thursday night?
