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Major League Soccer reaches into most large cities in the United States but Los Angeles is blessed with two very strong teams. LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC are both considered to be forces in the division and each has made an impressive start to the new campaign.

We’re several weeks in to the 2022 MLS season and it’s a good time to check on the progress of those two LA sides.

As it Stands

Both LAFC and LA Galaxy play in the Western Conference. After ten games of the current campaign, Los Angeles FC sat proudly at the top of the division while Galaxy are not too far behind in third place.

Across those first ten games, LAFC have won seven times. They’ve drawn two of those matches and have lost just once. Their tally of 23 points puts them four points and two places ahead of the Galaxy. Manager Greg Vanney’s team have won six games while returning one draw and two defeats.

It’s a solid base for both Los Angeles franchises but can either of them build on that platform and go on to win the MLS Cup?

Predictions for the Season

There is plenty of encouragement from neutral pundits at this stage of the MLS season. Sports betting sites linked to SBO list Los Angeles FC as the clear favorites in the outright MLS Cup winner markets.

Philadelphia Union and defending champions New York City FC are close behind before we come to LA Galaxy in fourth place. As the campaign continues, those odds will be subject to change and Sbo.net will update their markets in reaction to every single match.

While assessing those markets, visitors to the site can also study reviews of all sportsbooks mentioned. If they wish to proceed and get directly involved, every bookmaker mentioned on those pages is ready to take on new customers.

Subject to eligibility criteria and a swift and secure sign up form, the majority of those sportsbooks also have generous welcome packages. A choice of deposit and withdrawal options, efficient help facilities and the option to stake via a mobile betting app will be among the additional benefits.

It’s a strong endorsement from a neutral standpoint but who are the crucial players who can take their respective teams deeper into the competition?

Key Players on Each Side

Goals have been shared around this LAFC side but the club’s leading scorer after those ten games is Carlos Vela. The veteran Mexican has found the net on four occasions and he will be looking to lift that ratio in the weeks to come.

Strike partner Kwadwo Opoku has scored three times in his first ten games and, while they have both been important figures for LA this season, they will want to improve on that ratio as the season progresses.

For LA Galaxy, last season was a productive one for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Javier Hernandez. The Mexican international suffered an injury setback after a prolific opening but he’s recovered and is impressing again at the start of a new campaign.

With five goals in his first ten Galaxy games of 2022, Hernandez is key to his side’s future success in tight contests.

Can they do it?

The first target for any MLS franchise is to make it through to the playoffs. Based on those early results, that should be a comfortable target for both of the Los Angeles teams. From that point, the format of the competition can open up the tournament to an extent.

The series of knockout rounds puts the pressure on teams in this one-off contest. We’ve seen a number of those games go down to a penalty shootout which, quite frankly, is something of a lottery.

It’s fair to say that New York City FC took advantage of that format in 2021. They were not favorites for the MLS Cup but it’s all about raising your game at that knockout stage.

Los Angeles FC and LA Galaxy have work still to do but the opening exchanges in the 2022 Major League Soccer season suggest that both sides have what it takes to go deep into the competition.

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