CARSON — To say that this is a big week for the Galaxy would be an understatement.
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It also could be a season-defining stretch.
The Galaxy have six games remaining in the regular season and they will play half of them in a seven-day stretch, starting Sunday on the road against St. Louis CITY SC.
“You get to this time of year and a three-game week in which two of the three are at home, there’s a huge opportunity in that,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “We are in a playoff position right now. We have a very small cushion. I think this gives you a chance to even create separation if you can have a really good week.
“Our goal here is to try to prepare one at a time, but have a little bit of a view of what the week looks like because we certainly have guys who aren’t going to play every game in every minute, so trying to have a good plan where we keep balance through the course of the week and give ourselves the best chance to take maximum points.”
The Galaxy (9-10-9, 36 points) are in ninth place, the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. After Sunday, they will return home to face the Portland Timbers and then Saturday host San Diego FC, both with 32 points and behind the Galaxy entering this weekend.
“I think it’s the most important week this year,” Galaxy forward João Klauss said. “This is the type of week that shows the strength of the group. In weeks like this, it’s impossible to play 11 players for 90 minutes three times. We’re going to need everyone.”
For Klauss, Sunday is a bit of a homecoming. Klauss joined St. Louis in 2022 and was the club’s first Designated Player.
“Very special place,” Klauss of St. Louis. “When I arrived there, the stadium wasn’t ready, so I watched all the process. Then the first year, the expansion year. A lot of great memories from St. Louis. A lot of friends there. Excited to be back there and see everyone.
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“I think most of the people there have a good relationship. Not all of them, but with the fans, I always showed a lot of respect for them, for the club, for the future of the club, for the owners. So yeah, I’m sure it would be nice to be back there, see everyone, and see the fans again.
The Galaxy will face a St. Louis team that has been one of the hottest in the league. St. Louis (13-6-8, 47 points) is unbeaten in its last 17 games and has jumped to second place in the Western Conference. The Galaxy are winless in seven meetings all-time against St. Louis and have allowed three goals in each of the last three meetings, including a 3-1 defeat July 22 at home.
“We got to be stingier on the defensive end and we’ve got to take advantage because a lot of these games will come down to just moments,” Vanney said. “We’ve got to be calculated and clean when we have the ball and the build-outs, and they are pressing us in man-on-man.
“I think there’s opportunity inside of those moments, but in seeking those opportunities, we got to make sure that we don’t put ourselves in bad situations. So, I think it’s going to be an interesting game.”
Lozano sidelined
Forward Chucky Lozano, who suffered a hamstring injury while on international duty with Mexico, will be out at least for this upcoming week, Vanney said.
The initial timeline is for Lozano, on loan for the rest of the season from San Diego FC, to be out for two weeks.
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GALAXY (9-10-9, 36 points) at ST. LOUIS CITY SC (13-6-8, 47 points)
When: 4 p.m. PT Sunday
Where: Energizer Park, St. Louis, Mo.
How to watch: Apple TV