Minnesota United vs. L.A. Galaxy

When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Allianz Field
Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Weather: 41 degrees, partly cloudy, 10 mph east wind
Betting line: MNUFC minus-105; draw plus-260; L.A. plus-260

Form: United (2-1-1, 7 points) coughed up a three-goal lead for the first time as an MLS club in a 3-3 draw with winless Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. Galaxy (0-3-1, 1 point) got a 1-1 draw with Portland on Sunday. For all of L.A.’s struggles after winning MLS Cup, they advanced in Concacaf Champions Cup with a win over Herediano of Costa Rica last week.

Recent matchups: The Loons were blasted in a 6-2 defeat to Galaxy in the Western Conference semifinals last November. L.A. went 1-0-1 in the two regular-season matchups in 2024. MNUFC is 3-9-5 all-time against Galaxy in MLS matches.

Absences: Loons have five starters away for international duty; Galaxy have none. MNUFC are hit especially hard on defense without captain center back Michael Boxall (New Zealand), center back Carlos Harvey (Panama) and goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair (Canada). United is also without two attackers, midfielder Robin Lod (Finland) and forward Tani Oluwaseyi (Canada).

Injuries: Kipp Keller (hamstring) is out. Joseph Rosales (thigh) is probable.

Milestone: MNUFC are one victory away from 100 regular-season wins since joining MLS in 2017. The Loons are 99-105-59 in its MLS era.

Check-in: Former Loons forward Christian Ramirez will make his second return visit to Minnesota on Saturday. After being traded away midway through the 2018 season, Ramirez didn’t come back until he was with the Columbus Crew last March. The Californian has one goal in 157 minutes this season.

Projected XI: In a 5-3-2 formation, FW Sang Bin Jeong, FW Kelvin Yeboah; MF Joaquin Pereyra, MF Hassani Dotson, MF Wil Trapp; LWB Anthony Markanich, CB Nicholas Romero, CB Morris Duggan, CB Jefferson Diaz, RWB Bongi Hlongwane; GK Alex Smir.

Quote: The Loons stuck with Smir as backup goalie in the offseason despite him allowing six goals across three MLS starts a season ago. Tom Fawdry, the club’s head of goalkeeping, said: “Alex gives himself the best opportunity in terms of his preparation. He is a phenomenal professional every day in training. He is superb and gives his all. He prepares himself in the best way for whatever situation might occur.”

Scouting report: Galaxy will be without dynamic playmaker Riqui Puig and troublesome winger Jeremey Paintsil due to injuries and Dejan Joveljic is now scoring against Minnesota for Kansas City, but they still have Gabriel Pec. The Brazilian forward has one goal across 360 minutes this season. He will test Loons’ inexperienced defensive core.

Big question: What is MNUFC’s mental state after the “sickening” draw that felt like a loss last week in Kansas? Given Galaxy’s struggles, the first goal could loom large for their confidence and Loons’ feelings of “here we go again.”

Prediction: MNUFC will have another reason to despise playing through international windows. The Loons’ cobbled-together defense is just too suspect to put much faith in snagging all three points. Galaxy earn first win of the season, 2-1.