The Galaxy won’t be far, far away this weekend, as LA is set to come to Allianz Field for a crucial showdown in the battle for playoff positioning. With your Loons in 12th on 29 points and the Galaxy in 10th on 30, it’s a perfect opportunity to jump up the table and start building some positive momentum as we near the final stretch of the 2026 regular season. Here we go, you Loons.
Minnesota United (7-10-8)
Run of Form: L-L-L-D-W
I know, three L’s in a row aren’t really what you want to see in this section. But you know what you don’t see? Your Loons have scored 15 goals in their last five games combined, their most productive stretch of the season. That outburst has unfortunately coincided with allowing 14 goals in the same span, but for a team that’s been looking to evolve into a more attacking style of play, there are some positive signs beginning to emerge — now, they just need the results to catch up.
LA Galaxy (7-10-9)
Run of Form: D-L-W-L-D
There’s something deeply satisfying about the symmetry of LA’s run of form. After you’ve taken a moment to appreciate the palindrome-iness of it, we can dive into the deeper meaning. Alright, good. Both L’s came against clubs currently in playoff positions (Vancouver in first, San Diego in ninth), both draws came against teams below the postseason cutoff (Seattle in 14th in the west, Montreal in 15th in the east), and that win came as a surprise against the third-place team in the east, the New England Revolution. What does that tell us? Keep reading, and maybe I’ll tell you.
Keys to the Match:
Klauss is Coming to Town
No, not Santa. I’m talking about João Klauss, and Loons fans will be hoping he’s not bringing any gifts with him ahead of this weekend’s match. After reactivating their DP forward from the injury list, the Galaxy have reloaded their side with the focal point they’ve been missing since early May. He made his official return to action on September 12 against the Sounders, playing 23 minutes as a substitute. While he didn’t shake off the rust with a goal in that game, MLS fans are familiar with the Brazilian forward’s pedigree, and his re-emergence will be an encouraging sign to the Galaxy faithful. Between his stints with St. Louis and LA, he’s got 30 goals in 88 games played, hitting five of those in his first nine games of 2026 prior to injury. While not the fastest or most technically gifted player on the field at any time, Klauss has made a name for himself as an intelligent striker with wicked finishing, and any appearance from him this weekend — starting or subbing — demands some extra attention from a Loons defense that has been struggling to defend players just like him. How can they solve that problem? See key number two, please; we’re keeping things moving today.
Fresh Legs, Fresh Perspective
Backline’s tend to get better with age — the longer a group plays together, the better they understand one another’s tendencies. But sometimes, a problem in the back is best solved by the introduction of some fresh, hungry energy. Whether Head Coach Cameron Knowles wanted to or not, he’ll have to rotate his backline once again this weekend, with both Kyle Duncan and Michael Boxall serving suspensions. Morris Duggan was a late scratch last match, and Jefferson Diaz came on as a substitute in the second half against St. Louis, giving valuable minutes to the likes of Nicolás Romero and Carlos Harvey. Duggan and Bongoukuhle Hlongwane look like they might be able to return from injury this weekend, while Diaz missed practice early this week due to sickness. That Duggan, Boxall, and Diaz back three have been selected pretty consistently this year, meaning that we might need to see a much different look in this Saturday’s showdown. A potential back three of Romero, Diaz, and Harvey would be a completely new lineup for the boys, and with Kyle Duncan out as well, it’s likely that DJ Taylor could hear his name called this weekend. If those options feel too thin to Coach Knowles, he might opt for a change in formation, switching to a back four with Anthony Markanich, Romero, Diaz, and Harvey stretching the line a bit more than normal. If that’s the case, one of the holding midfielders could be asked to drop between the centerbacks to free up the fullbacks in possession or to add numbers out of possession. Either way, the solution to keeping Klauss and company quiet will involve a lot of adjustment in the defensive third.
Six-Pointer
If you’ve watched enough soccer, you’ve likely heard an announcer say that a match is a six-pointer. Does that mean some matches are magically worth double? No, of course not; magic only exists in Harry Potter and Burt Wonderstone (deep cut). A “six-pointer” is a match between two direct rivals in the table, meaning that the points won from the match will be crucial in deciding which side finishes higher when the dust settles. I alluded to it in the intro, but with just a single point separating MNUFC and LA, this match could be the difference between playing past November 7 and packing up early. This game arrives as an absolutely crucial moment in the Black and Blue’s chase for a playoff spot, and with players out for the Loons, players returning for the Galaxy, and the wear and tear of an especially long and hectic season affecting both clubs, it feels bigger than your average regular-season matchup. While their destiny isn’t totally within their own hands, your Loons need to take advantage of every opportunity they get to directly impact their playoff chances, and that means beating their rivals around the cutoff line. Your Loons have alternated between all-out attacking and more cautious approaches recently, but I think the answer is clear ahead of this one. Rotated personnel or not, it’s worth putting the pedal to the metal in this one to try and bag some goals. After all, you can’t win if you don’t score (eyerolls from every player that’s ever heard that one, sorry).
