Minnesota United x Los Angeles Galaxy
When: 7:30 pm Wednesday
Where: Allianz Field
Flow: Apple TV Season Pass
Radio: KSTP-AM 1500 ESPN
Climate: 70 degrees, cloudy, northwest wind 10 mph
Betting line: MNUFC plus-105; draw plus-280; LA plus-205
Form: MNUFC (6-2-2) and Galaxy (5-2-5) are tied for second in the Western Conference with 20 points each. The Loons, however, have played two fewer games and have an advantage in points per game (2.0 to 1.67). Minnesota has won three straight; LA hasn’t won in three.
Absences: Emanuel Reynoso (return to play protocol), Hassani Dotson (hamstring), Hugo Bacharach (knee), Jordan Adebayo-Smith (ankle) and Moses Nyeman (unknown) are out.
To update: Coach Eric Ramsay has spoken briefly with Reynoso since the midfielder returned to Minnesota last week.
“The nature of our situation at the moment is that we are entering a very busy period of games where we play every three days. The team is really moving in the right direction. There is a really good energy around the team.
“It’s kind of not – it’s not me being evasive in any way when I say we’re focused on the players we have in front of us and those who are available and playing. This, as much as it’s a big narrative in the media, I think internally it’s just a very small thing.
Ramsay said Reynoso “wants to come back and work hard and hopefully be humble and recognize the situation he’s in and cross his fingers he can put himself in a good place. That’s the only way we, and I hope he and his group, are looking at this. It’s a very individual thing at the moment. We’ll kind of cross the team bridge when it comes to that.”
Projected XI: In a 5-2-3 formation, LW Franco Fragapane, CF Tani Oluwaseyi, RW Sang Bin Jeong; CM Robin Lod, CM Wil Trapp; LB Devin Padelford, CB Micky Tapias, CB Michael Boxall, CB Kervin Arriaga; DJ Taylor; GK Dayne St.
RELATED: Life is coming fast for Kervin Arriaga. And the Honduran is coming home
Look forward: The Loons host the Portland Timbers on Saturday, so we’ll see how Ramsay handles the first week of doubleheaders. Ramsay has shown a willingness to use a stronger squad of players and estimated that 18-22 could take the field this week.
Scouting Report: The Galaxy have four players averaging 0.5 goals plus assists per 90 minutes, including Dejan Joveljic, Joseph Paintsil, Riqui Puig and Gabriel Pec. Ramsay looks at LA as one of the best, if not the, best front four in MLS.
Player to watch: Puig. “He can open up the game with the way he runs with the ball, the passes he sees,” said captain Michael Boxall. “He’s been a great player for them. He is one of the key pieces that we have to shut down. If we can reach their wide players, it will be less dangerous out there and we will be able to manage the crosses, so that is the first step to getting three points.”
State: 0.8 points per game. The Loons average an incredible 2.4 points per game away from home, compared to a still-quality 1.6 at St. Slower starts have been a bugbear for MNUFC in recent home games.
Prediction: The Loons’ new five-back formation has allowed just two goals in their last three games, while the Galaxy have scored just two in their previous three. The trend continued with the home team’s 1-0 victory.
