Los Angeles plays host to one of Major League Soccer’s most electric rivalries on Friday night as the Galaxy welcome LAFC to Dignity Health Sports Park.
The fixture, famously dubbed “El Tráfico,” is one of the most anticipated matchups in the MLS calendar and takes place twice a year between the two crosstown clubs.
Friday’s encounter is officially sold out, with 27,000 fans filling the seats and ensuring a full house for the occasion.
The match marks the resumption of the MLS season for both clubs, who have been on hiatus during the FIFA World Cup hosted across the United States.
Los Angeles itself has been at the centre of the World Cup excitement, having hosted eight matches throughout the tournament, including games involving Team USA.
Neither the Galaxy nor LAFC will be missing key players, as no members of either squad are involved in Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.
Galaxy coach Greg Vanney captured the mood ahead of the restart, telling MLSSoccer.com, “It’s a hell of a way to get started.”
LAFC coach Marc Dos Santos echoed that sentiment, saying, “If you have to choose a game to get started again, it’s this game.”
The two clubs have met 26 times since LAFC’s inaugural season in 2018, with the Galaxy holding a narrow 10-9-7 lead in the all-time rivalry record.
The standings make this particular edition even more compelling, with LAFC sitting at 7-5-3 and 24 points in the Western Conference, while the Galaxy trail with a 5-5-5 record and 20 points.
Galaxy midfielder Marcos Reus made clear how much the rivalry means to the players, emphasising the bragging rights at stake for both sides of the city.
Reus said, “It’s a lot on the table for both sides, so nobody wants to lose.”
The German star also reflected on his personal experience in the fixture, adding, “I played now two El Tráficos. It’s time for another win to start the second [half] of the season in a good way. That’s our goal.”
With both squads at full strength and a sold-out crowd ready to roar, Friday night’s El Tráfico promises to deliver another fierce and memorable chapter in this growing Los Angeles rivalry.
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