Los Angeles Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney has urged his side to be more creative when facing low blocks ahead of their clash against Minnesota United.

The Galaxy were held to a 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers last time out, despite the Timbers playing with 10 men from the 19th minute onwards.

LA Galaxy produced 1.84 xG from 22 shots to Portland's 0.43 from eight attempts, but the 2024 MLS Cup winners were not able to secure their second win of the season.

Vanney has encouraged the Galaxy to take more initiative and make more sacrifices as a team when facing more defensive opposition.

"When we get into the final action, it doesn't have to be me who makes the play, it has to be us who makes the play, and it has to be the best guy in the best position who has the best chance to help the team be successful," said Vanney.

"It doesn't need to be me; it needs to be about us. And I think that's part of us becoming a team that takes these points and buries teams, it is about making the best decisions when we get into those final actions for the group to be successful. 

"Sometimes it's also ‘I'm going to make this run hard to the near post.  I know it isn't going to be for me, but I'm going to take this near post center back out of the way so that the next guy who shows up can finish too’. 

"So, sometimes it's about sacrificing yourself on a run to create space for the next guy and recognising that I'm the guy that needs to sacrifice myself in this situation to clear up a space for somebody else to finish."

Minnesota, like the Galaxy, have picked up five points from their opening five games of the 2026 season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LA Galaxy – Joao Klauss

Joao Klauss has scored five goals in his first five MLS matches with LA Galaxy, including netting the lone goal in the Galaxy’s draw with Portland.

Klauss joins Landon Donovan (five) and Carlos Ruiz (six) as the only players to score at least five goals in their first five regular-season games with LA Galaxy.

Minnesota United – Kelvin Yeboah

Kelvin Yeboah has scored four goals in three career matches against LA Galaxy in the regular season and playoffs, netting two braces in those matches.

Only Carlos Vela (four), Denis Bouanga (three) and Mamadou Diallo (three) have scored multiple goals in at least three MLS matches against LA Galaxy (including playoffs).

MATCH PREDICTION – LA GALAXY WIN

LA Galaxy have only lost three of 19 all-time meetings with Minnesota (W10 D6), including going unbeaten in five (W3 D2).

The Galaxy have scored multiple goals in the last eight meetings (including playoffs), equalling the second-longest such streak in MLS history (Toronto – 12 straight versus the Chicago from 2016-22).

LA Galaxy’s 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City in their last home match ended a run of six straight unbeaten at home in all competitions (W4 D2) dating back to the end of last season.

Minnesota are winless in seven straight away matches in all competitions (D2 L5), including losing their last two on the road by a combined score of 9-1.

The Loons had lost just once in their previous 15 on the road dating back to last March.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LA Galaxy – 43%

Draw – 26.6%

Minnesota United 30.4%