LA Galaxy vs. Club Leon Prediction for July 25; Last Title Chance for LA Galaxy

On Tuesday, July 25, the Los Angeles Galaxy’s last title chance in 2023 begins at home with the first match of their inaugural Leagues Cup campaign against Concacaf Champions League Champion, Club Leon. It will be a spectacular test for LA, who after beating both MLS Cup finalists in a week, crashed down to earth in their last MLS match, a 4-2 reversal to their other Leagues Cup opponent, Vancouver Whitecaps. The loss put a severe dent into their playoff hopes with just 13 games left to play.

This is a new hope for the Galaxy, however, as it is a new tournament. Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney will be hoping the Whitecaps loss was the wake-up call the team needed. Being at home should help a Galaxy side, who will face a difficult opponent, but has shown they can match up with any team that’s been thrown at them. If they can get past Leon and Vancouver, LA just might have a realistic last title chance in 2023. 

LA Galaxy vs. Club Leon at Dignity Health Sports Park

LA Galaxy’s Current Run of Form

A seven-game unbeaten run was undone with a mad 20 minutes in Vancouver that ended in conceding three first-half goals. Although LA launched a comeback with 10 men, it fell short and laid bare LA’s defensive failings yet again. Defender Chris Mavinga will quickly want to forget this game as his red card and penalty dug his team into an insurmountable hole. The result left the Galaxy in 13th place and a 5-7-10 record, which is good enough for 22 points. The Galaxy still has three points on last-place Colorado, but time is running out, and the team knows it. Any moment, the “every game is a final,” quote will be thrown about by the team. And they aren’t wrong.

Which is why this tournament is the perfect break. The Galaxy will use it and the time away from MLS to focus on something other than their fading playoff hopes and the pressure from the chase. It is an opportunity to play a new opponent and correct the mistakes made against an old one. It might even be a chance for the Galaxy to integrate any new signings into the group.

The returning Jalen Neal should help bring even more stability to a back line that had shown improvement in recent games, the Vancouver blip notwithstanding. Neal will be key in stopping a fluid Leon attack, and the way he communicates with Gaston Brugman to marshal the defense will be key. On the attacking end, Riqui Puig is expected to continue his fine form. The way he and Douglas Costa have combined with Tyler Boyd in recent games is encouraging. If this trio can click again, Leon will have a long evening ahead of them in this debut match.