Halftime Hype

Saturday's game between the LA Galaxy and Columbus Crew will serve as the Galaxy's most important match since the last season's MLS Cup Final against Real Salt Lake. Despite the LA Galaxy's recent slump, a victory at home against the Crew would surely energize the squad.

"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.”