The beauty of the Honda Superclasico is that no matter where L.A.'s teams sit in the standings, the rivalry remains. Tonight the L.A. Galaxy will play in what is considered a "road" game against Chivas USA, although the teams share the same arena, The Home Depot Center. For the Galaxy, a victory tonight is crucial in their support of the Supporter's Shield. On the contrary, Chivas USA, who is already eliminated from the playoffs, will try to earn their first victory over the Galaxy since 2007.
“These games are special in the sense that standings – where you are in the table – don’t really matter,” said Chivas USA left back Ante Jazic. “It’s just 90 minutes of battling and scrapping. We want to win this SuperClásico.”
For the Galaxy, three points would boost them back to first place in the Western Conference, as they currently trail Real Salt Lake by one point. The main objective will be to stay focused, particularly against a team like Chivas that has nothing to lose.
"With teams like this, there is nothing to lose," the Galaxy's Landon Donovan said. "We just have to make sure that they know we're the team that's headed to the playoffs."
What truly defines the Superclasico just as much as the rivalry is the atmosphere. With the match being broadcast nationally on ESPN2, this isn't just your typical MLS game.
“The atmosphere has a European flavor to it,” said Jazic. “Not just on the field, but in The Home Depot Center stands. Just the tension in the air is electric and everyone feels it. That’s special because it doesn’t happen often in MLS.”
No Thierry Henry. No problem. The New York Red Bulls strolled into Los Angeles and earned a 2-0 shutout of the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center, ending the Galaxy's three game unbeaten streak.
However, what is even more important than the final score is the atmosphere. For once, the hype surrounding a MLS game materialized. Finally, rather than feeling like a match in an inferior league, the game had a vibe filled with intensity. This is what soccer is supposed to feel like.
Being involved with sports and having lived in Los Angeles my entire life, I have seen games of all L.A. sports team besides the NHL's Kings and if you count them, the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim." From firsthand experience, I can say that, for the most part, the best atmosphere belongs to a Lakers game at Staples Center. On a night like this one, though, the L.A. Galaxy were the Lakers of the MLS - with just as much excitement in the crowd as at a Lakers game.
Sure, the Supporters' Section and Riot Squad are present at every home game. Yes, they are always quite literally drumming up support. But, unlike most MLS games, the Home Depot Center was hosting a sold-out crowd. Never mind that the L.A. Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez, Gregg Berhalter, and the Red Bulls' Henry were missing. The 27,000 fans in attendance were hooting and hollering the entire evening.
At every game there are always passionate and knowledgeable fans asserting their thoughts (example: "C'mon so-and-so, tighten the back line"). In addition to having plenty of those types of fans in attendance, I sat next to the ultimate soccer type: a witty Englishmen, who always had something funny to say, albeit with a few curse words in between.
Among the many humorous things he shared:
"My son is better than you - and he's pretty bad"
"Forget club, you can't even ref AYSO"
To the Galaxy's goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts: "Ricketts, if I had a daughter she would marry you"
"There's a spot for you on Liverpool. You can play for England."
The Galaxy's match against the Columbus Crew on September 11 had a great vibe, too. After each and every one of the Galaxy's three goals were scored, the moments that ensued were somewhat surreal - the loud, celebratory music blasting while hugging and jumping up and down with the fans next to you.
Despite all that, though, the game versus the Red Bulls was just something else even if the Galaxy didn't score a single goal. Nothing can compare to the buzz during tonight's match; loud and continuous chants alongside the constant battering of thunder-sticks at a MLS game is a rarity - and a special treat at that.
This kind of intensity is exactly what American soccer needs. If it can continue to hype up rivalries and boast some big-name players here and there, the interest will only continue to skyrocket. It's crazy to think that about how exciting the atmosphere was when this was, in reality, just another regular season game. Imagine the intensity of a MLS Cup Final!
Both stars saw action in the Galaxy's 3-1 victory on Saturday nightThe Galaxy no longer share first place, proving why they are the best team in the MLS with a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center. Both clubs, the leaders of the Western and Eastern Conference, entered the game tied with 44 points. However, the night belonged to the Galaxy, who benefited from the return of Juninho and David Beckham.
Juninho, who had been out for personal reasons, did a brilliant job of finding his unmarked teammates. When asked about his return, manager Bruce Arena said "He’s an excellent player. We really missed him...Tonight he played well, and obviously it’s great to get him back.”
Instead of conceding early goals to the opponent, the Galaxy were the ones who came out aggressive. In the 13th minute, Edson Buddle scored from the top of the box off an assist from Landon Donovan. Buddle, who leads the league in goals scored, earned his 14th goal of the season.
Fans really knew their team was playing well when Dema Kovalenko scored, his first goal with the Galaxy. Landon Donovan threaded a pass to Kovalenko, who found the net in the 35th minute. Kovalenko, renowned for his feisty tackles, is not known as a goal-scoring threat. The assist was also Donovan's second of the game, raising his league-leading number of assists to 14.
Arena began the second half by substituting Chris Birchall for Edson Buddle. The move was solely for precautionary reasons, as Buddle was feeling cramps in his legs. "He is ready to go and will be fine," Arena reassured.
The Galaxy's offense continued, nonetheless. In the 55th minute, Galaxy midfielder Alex Cazumba lobbed a free kick from about 40 yards toward the far post, connecting with Jovan Kirovski for a header.
In the 70th minute, David Beckham, who had not played for the Galaxy this season due to a torn Achilles tendon, returned to a standing ovation. Beckham had not played a MLS game for 289 days, his last match being the MLS Cup Final on November 22, 2009. Although he proved some rust in receiving a yellow card after only four minutes, his passing was excellent as usual.
After the game, Arena dwelled on the Englishman's presence. “David’s presence helps our team in the locker room, on the training field and on game day," Arena said. "It is remarkable that he is back on the field in this short period of time. September 15th is six months, and at his age, to put in the kind of effort to come back and for the players to see that is inspirational to the team.”
Unfortunately for the team, the Galaxy would not leave with a shutout. The Crew's Andres Mendoza, who entered the game as a sub in the 63rd minute, made the most of his one-on-one with Galaxy goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts. He scored the Crew's lone goal in the 85th minute.
Buddle gave his thoughts on sole possession of the top spot. “We’ve led the league all year and we wanted to hold on to that. Who knows what the mood would have been like if we would have lost that game and let Columbus take the lead," he said. Indeed, much to the Galaxy's pleasure, nobody will ever have to know.
Beckham (pictured above) may see some playing time against the Crew on Saturday night"This for us is a championship game," the Galaxy's Landon Donovan said. “If we want to be where we want to be, we need to have home-field [advantage] throughout the playoffs in the West, and this is a team we might play in the final if we get there. This is a very, very big game for us.”
Indeed, the game features a potential MLS Cup match-up, with both teams leading their conferences - and the league - with 44 points. Although the Galaxy were once far ahead of the competition, there is now a three-way tie for first place between the Galaxy, Crew, and Real Salt Lake. However, as Donovan pointed out, a tight race to the finish might actually be a good thing.
“This is good that it’s happened this way," Donovan said. "It’s good now that we have some competition. For a long time we’ve been six, eight, 10 points ahead of everybody and it makes you relax a little bit.”
In addition to MLS Cup implications and bragging rights, the match may also mark the return of David Beckham. Beckham, who was activated from the disabled list earlier this week, has not appeared in a game for the club since last season's MLS Cup on November 22, 2009 after suffering a tear in his left Achilles tendon nearly six months ago.
“I think I could possibly be on the bench,” Beckham said Thursday.
Ultimately, whether or not Beckham plays is up to manager Bruce Arena. Unfortunately for the Galaxy and its fans, Arena did not share the same optimism as Becks. On the prospect of Beckham getting playing time: “I don’t think that’s likely," Arena said.
With or without Beckham, if the Galaxy are still after the Supporter's Shield, they must step up their game. The team's last win came nearly a month ago, a 1-0 road victory on August 14 against the New York Red Bulls, who featured their newly-minted designated player trio of Juan Pablo Angel, Thierry Henry, and Rafael Marquez.
Then again, the Galaxy are tied for best in the MLS for a reason. “We’re not playing the best right now but someone once told me the standings don’t lie,” Donovan said. “Over the course of the season, we’ve been the best team – but right now we’re not playing the best. We still feel like we’re a team that’s good enough to win.”
The Los Angeles Galaxy could not hold on to a first half lead as Real Madrid rallied its way to a 3-2 victory Saturday night at the Rose Bowl in front of 89, 134 fans in attendance. The Galaxy, who began the game with their typical starters, scored two goals in the last five minutes of the first half against Real, who opened the game with a cast of mostly reserves.
The Los Angeles Galaxy will receive a test of sorts when the team hosts world-class Real Madrid at the Home Depot Center on Saturday night. Galaxy manager Bruce Arena and his squad will face Real's star-studded cast, coached by one of the best managers in the world, the recently hired Mourinho.
The exhibition comes at different times for the two teams. The Galaxy, along with other teams in the MLS, are in the middle of their season. In fact, the Galaxy traveled to play the Puerto Rico Islanders on Wednesday in a CONCACAF Champions League game. Prior to that game, the Galaxy also had played the Chicago Fire at home on Sunday.
In a phone interview on Thursday, when asked if the Galaxy's busy schedule would take a toll on the team's performance versus Real, ESPN analyst Alexi Lalas said, "The Galaxy and the players understand how to travel and regenerate physically and emotionally...It's part of being a professional athlete. It's not ideal in terms of traveling back across the country, but one thing you learn when you play in the United States is how to prepare to recover from the type of travel that exists in our league."
On the other hand, Real Madrid, like many European clubs, is still in the midst of its preseason training. However, Real also had a match on Wednesday, winning 3-2 against Club America, a Mexican soccer team, in an exhibition played in San Francisco. Make no mistake, though, this isn't entirely a vacation for the personnel. Throughout the past couple of weeks, the team has often been training twice a day at UCLA.
Asked whether the MLS teams have the advantage in these summer exhibitions, since the European clubs have not started their season yet, Lalas noted that is "not always the case."
"Maybe to a certain extent, but I think that sometimes in preseason, players play a little looser. Also, younger players...that more hungry, get the opportunity to show it. So it doesn't always work out where the team that is in season is always the better team. For the Galaxy to be playing against Real Madrid while they are in the middle of the season, maybe it's a little bit of an advantage."
Unfortunately, Real's Brazilian star, Kaka, will not participate in the game this Saturday after deciding to undergo surgery this week to repair a meniscus injury. Contrary to certain reports declaring that Kaka's injury could have ended his career, manager Mourinho believed otherwise.
Real Madrid's Christiano Ronaldo, above (Photo credits: itfilms.com)
"I cannot say this is a dramatic injury because dramatic injuries finish with the careers of players. This is not a dramatic injury," Mourinho reassured the media in a press conference on Friday.
Although many tend to focus more on the world-renown players in international exhibitions, Mourinho is quite a star himself. Having won practically every championship possible during his coaching career, Mourinho is widely regarded as one of the best, if not the best, manager in the world.
At the end of the day, though, fans are buying tickets to see the Real Madrid's stars on the pitch. With the exception of Kaka, that's exactly what they'll get. The roster include goalkeeper Iker Casillas, also in the net for the World Cup-winning Spanish national team; Christiano Ronaldo, one of the best soccer players in the world and perhaps the most marketed soccer player on the planet; Sergio Ramos, a top defender who plays alongside Casillas for "La Furia Roja"; and many more.
Real Madrid certainly has nothing to lose in the game, and, according to Lalas, actually gains several benefits by playing against the Galaxy.
"For Real Madrid, it's their preseason. They get the opportunity to play in front of a big crowd, spread their brand, and play against a good team in the Galaxy. If you're a coach, in preseason you want to challenge your players and not just go out and play against teams that you walk all over."
The Galaxy has several of its own players to boast, if not as highly. Landon Donovan, lauded as an American soccer hero for his late goal against Algeria in the World Cup, will be on the pitch. Another World Cup player, Edson Buddle, will also represent the Galaxy. Plus, the Galaxy's back line features Omar Gonzalez, recently called upon to replace defender Chad Marshall in the United States' friendly against Brazil on August 10.
Perhaps most notably for the Galaxy, the friendly will be the final game for Clint Mathis, a former United States national team player, who will retire after the match this weekend.
“I’ve always said I wanted to retire with the team I started, and that’s here with the Galaxy,” Mathis said after his final training session. “I was fortunate to come back here and that’s the first stadium that used to be our home stadium, the Rose Bowl."
Galaxy and former United States national team player, Clint Mathis (pictured above), will retire after Saturday's game
From the Galaxy's perspective, Saturday's friendly presents a great opportunity to play against a world-class side in Real Madrid. As Donovan said on a local radio show, the game has "significant meaning to it...Not many players get a chance to play against Real Madrid. It's a big massive club, one of the biggest clubs in the world."
These types of international exhibitions also tend to exemplify a certain amount of marketing, particularly for the foreign team. For example, at the MLS All-Star game, in which the MLS All-Stars lost to Machester United 5-2, there were plenty of fans wearing United's red jerseys among the sold-out crowd of over 70,000. Similar to the World Cup, international soccer competitions always seems to energize U.S. crowds - and have Americans reaching for their wallets. You can bet that the notable European clubs benefit financially every time they make a trip to the United States.
When pressed about whether the emphasis of the international exhibitions is on marketing or if the matches are, indeed, good for soccer, Lalas thought the latter.
"It's good for soccer to bring quality teams and to bring big stars but I think both the MLS teams and the international teams see benefits in terms of their brand. The Galaxy will get as much out of this game as Real Madrid will, in terms of the perception of their brand. I think it's advantageous to both teams, but there's certainly a marketing and a branding component to these games, and a financial component.
"Look , you know, Real Madrid's not playing for free. While it appears it was strictly about branding and money for these teams coming over, I think thankfully now they not only get the money that they need, but also the competition playing against MLS teams...the type of competition you want in a preseason."
The Galaxy are certainly familiar with international competition. Last summer they hosted other world famous clubs, falling to Barcelona in a 2-1 loss and a breaking even in a 2-2 draw versus AC Milan. Interestingly enough, during his tenure with Chelsea, Mourinho coached against the Galaxy in an international friendly on July 22, 2007. Mourinho and his squad won the game 1-0, defeating the Galaxy in David Beckham's debut.
At the time, Lalas was also general manager of the Galaxy. He recalled several things about the international match.
"You have to balance the different aspects of wanting to make sure that your team goes out and puts on a big game with the recognition that younger players...need to get time...I always looked at it as you're representing your club and it's an opportunity to send a message to your fans and to your market that you can play against big competition. You don't want to waste those opportunities because it all goes into the perception of your brand and, once again, the relevancy and credibility that you have within your market."
On paper, the game may just be a meaningless friendly. In reality, the Galaxy will have to shoulder the credibility of the MLS and demonstrate that the best of the MLS can compete with the best of Europe.