By Justin Ruderman
Defending MLS Cup champions, LA Galaxy, will have the luxury of being at home when they host current Liga MX leaders, Pachuca, in the final quarterfinal matchup from Dignity Health Sports Park.
HEAD TO HEAD
- 3rd meeting all-time
- Met twice in the 2007 North American SuperLiga. Pachuca won 2-1 in the group stage; Galaxy triumphed in the final on penalties
- Record at Leagues Cup: LA Galaxy (4-4), Pachuca (3-4)
LAST FIVE GAMES
- LA Galaxy
- 2 Wins, 0 Draws, 3 Losses
- Won two out of three in Phase One of Leagues Cup, but have lost three of their last four in MLS play.
- Pachuca
- 3 Wins, 0 Draws, 2 Losses
- Coming off a loss to Tijuana in league play, but other than that are off to great start in Apertura 2025 with four wins in five games.
MAIN STORYLINES
- LA Galaxy secured advancement to the Leagues Cup knockout stages by finishing third in the MLS Phase One table. Wins over Tijuana and Santos Laguna sandwiched a penalty shootout defeat to Cruz Azul, earning the G’s seven points.
- Pachuca reached the Leagues Cup quarterfinal with a second-place finish in the LIGA MX Phase One table. Los Tuzos accrued seven points with wins over San Diego FC and Houston Dynamo FC, either side of falling on penalties to LAFC.
- Reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy currently sit at the foot of the MLS table, all but eliminated from playoff contention. Leagues Cup is essentially their only chance left to lift major silverware this season.
- Pachuca top the early LIGA MX Apertura table on 12 points after five matches. Will their stellar league form translate to knockout stage competition in Leagues Cup?
- This is the first Leagues Cup quarterfinal appearance for both sides since the introduction of the new format in 2023. The winner will take on the winner of Seattle Sounders FC vs Club Puebla in the semifinals.
KEY FACTORS
- LA Galaxy
- Prior to their last four matches, playmaker Marco Reus had produced 12 goal contributions in his previous 12 matches. A return to form for the German icon would provide LA a massive boost.
- As Riqui Puig continues to await his return from injury, the other 66% of the “Killa P’s” must step up. Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec each have five goal contributions in their last six games.
- As reigning MLS Cup champions, Galaxy enjoy hosting privileges throughout the Leagues Cup knockouts. They rode the same advantage to that MLS Cup title.
- Pachuca
- Replacing the on-loan 35-year-old Salomón Rondón, fellow Colombian international striker Jhonder Cádiz has 2 goals and 1 assist in his first five LIGA MX matches for Pachuca. It’s time for his first Leagues Cup goal contribution.
- 19-year-old phenom Elias Montiel is already having the most productive season of his young career with 3 goals and 2 assists in 11 matches across all competitions. That includes a pinpoint long-range strike against LAFC in Phase One.
- Oussama Idrissi, Tuzos’ top creator last season, played his first full 45 minutes off the bench on Saturday since returning from injury. Is the star winger fit to start on Wednesday?
WHAT TO EXPECT?
These two powerhouse clubs are coached by a pair of managers who know how to win silverware.
LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney is a two-time MLS Cup champion, having just piloted the G’s to a league-record sixth MLS Cup title last season.
His opponent, former Mexico national team manager Jaime Lozano, is also accustomed to winning at a club boasting six Concacaf Champions Cup trophies. Internationally, Lozano led Mexico U-23s to a bronze medal finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics before lifting the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup with the senior team.
Both also donned the crest of their country over 30 times as players. The rivalry is natural. Now, the two will finally face off for the first time on Wednesday night at Dignity Health Sports Park (11:45 pm ET).
Their teams are similar too, focusing on positional play and using the ball effectively, yet lethally dangerous on the counterattack if given the opportunity.
It’s the 2024 MLS Cup champions taking on the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup winners for a spot in the 2025 Leagues Cup semifinals. This one is worth staying up late for.
