LA Galaxy vs LAFC MLS Previews & Picks - LAFC to stun the Galaxy in MLS opener

LA Galaxy and LAFC take to the field in a hotly-anticipated derby to begin the MLS season for the two sides. Can either team take all three points in their opening match?

LAFC won both encounters last season as they dominated their opponents with two 3-2 wins in their last two games. 

LA Galaxy come into this one on the back of a strong showing in the 2022 MLS season that they will be desperate to build on in 2023. 

14 wins came alongside eight draws and 12 defeats, with Galaxy making it through to the playoffs with four points between themselves and Portland in eighth. Despite this, Galaxy could only make it to the semi-finals by beating Nashville, before losing to LAFC.

It seems poetic that their last game in 2022 and their first game in 2023 come against the same opponents, with LA Galaxy looking to put things right following their 3-2 loss to LAFC in the semi-finals last year. 

Last season, LAFC were able to boss the Western Conference in the MLS as they finished with a huge 11 point gap between themselves and Austin in second. This came courtesy of 21 wins, four draws and just nine defeats, while their goal difference of +28 was far superior to any other side in their conference. 

In the playoffs, LAFC were able to be LA Galaxy and Austin FC, before they beat the Philadelphia Union 3-0 on penalties in the final after the game ended 3-3. 

Now, the challenge for LAFC is to back up their triumph this time round. A tough trip to face Galaxy in their opener is hardly the nicest of matches for LAFC, but a win here would show the rest of the league that LAFC are here to win yet another MLS title.