Los Angeles Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders Odds & Preview August 26

• Los Angeles Galaxy are fresh off their first win of 2020, Saturday’s 2-0 win over local rivals LAFC
• Seattle has won points in four of its past five visits to the Galaxy
• Read on for a breakdown of both teams, Wednesday’s odds and a few best bets below

Saturday’s win over Los Angeles FC likely represented a real monkey being off the backs of the Los Angeles Galaxy players. Not only were they one of just three MLS clubs who were winless in 2020 going into that match, but at +420 underdogs for that match, they were seen as having little chance to break out of that unwanted club for the foreseeable future.

Galaxy vs Sounders Odds

Odds taken Aug. 26

But goals from Ethan Zubak and Sebastian Lletget took care of that hoodoo and set the five-time MLS Cup winners up for what could be a pivotal encounter against the reigning MLS Cup-champion Seattle Sounders on Wednesday evening at 8:00 pm ET.

🌴 @LAGalaxy conquer #ElTrafico! 😤 pic.twitter.com/5vQpZfXQFr

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 23, 2020

Ready-Made Rivalry

Since the Seattle Sounders entered MLS in the 2009 season, their rivalry with the Galaxy has formed one of the highest-profile series in the entire league.

In all competitions, the two teams have met 38 times, with the Galaxy leading in head-to-head wins, 15-13, with 10 draws between the sides. Both teams average 1.4 goals per game in the matchup, although that number was thrown out of the window in their most recent meeting, back in September last year when the Sounders edged the Galaxy 4-3 in Seattle.

Roldan's finish gives the Sounders all three points over the Galaxy! (via @MLS) pic.twitter.com/lCdiAuh8Tm

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) September 2, 2019

Over the 11 years of the rivalry, both teams have proved to be ultimate winners, with the Galaxy claiming three MLS cups to Seattle’s two. In addition, Los Angeles holds a 3-1 edge in head-to-head playoff meetings over that time, with the Sounders claiming the upper hand in the U.S. Open Cup, with a 2-1 edge.

This is how you get it done. 👏

Ahead of #LAvSEA on Wednesday night, look back at this masterclass from last season! 🍿 pic.twitter.com/tKaYd5clYK

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) August 26, 2020

But Los Angeles has just two wins over Seattle in their last 10 meetings, although both those came in Southern California. Seattle has three wins all-time in their opponent’s stadium.

Galaxy vs Sounders MLS Stats

Seattle Still the Champions

While the Sounders were disappointed to bow out of the MLS Is Back tournament in the last-16 stage with a 4-1 loss to LAFC, they seemed to put much of that behind them in their return to regular-season play last Sunday.

Not only did they kick off their return to play with a comfortable 3-0 win, but they did it on the road and against the team that won the MLS Is Back event, the Portland Timbers.

Likely even more pleasing for the defending MLS Cup champions was that they were finally able to get Raul Ruidiaz to break out of his slump. Despite registering four goals and four assists in the team’s run to the championship last fall, the Peruvian striker came into that game with just one goal from open play in his previous 10 games.

But he shrugged that off with aplomb, grabbing a brace – including the eventual match-winner – to set himself up nicely to be a real danger man going forward.

Galaxy Ready for More

With their first win of 2020 under their belts, the Western Conference’s last-place team will look at that as a stepping stone to more. With just five points from six games, the Galaxy are very much looking up at the Sounders, who are currently second with 11 points from their six.

With Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez still doubtful for the Galaxy with a calf injury, Los Angeles will have been given a boost last Saturday when Jonathan dos Santos, who had been out for six months following hernia surgery, came off the bench in the second half.

The next stretch of games will not be easy for the Galaxy by any means. After Wednesday’s game against Seattle, they face San Jose, Portland, LAFC and San Jose again. All of those teams are currently in the playoff positions, so if Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s team is going anywhere this season, the time to put some wins together is now. Unfortunately for them, I see Seattle coming out on top in a high-scoring affair.

Pick: Sounders (+180); O 3.5 (+165)