LA Galaxy Versus Sporting KC Preview: Can the Wizards Turn Early Promise Into Points?

LA Galaxy Versus Sporting KC: Can the Wizards Turn Early Promise Into Points?

Dejan Joveljic returns to face his former club as Sporting Kansas City search for their first win of the 2026 MLS season

Sporting Kansas City may only have one point from nine to start the 2026 MLS season, but there is reason for optimism. The Wizards have shown flashes of promise and potential in each of their opening three games.

On Saturday, Sporting Kansas City head west for the second time this campaign. Waiting for them will be the LA Galaxy at Digital Health Sports Park. Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney will be happy with his team’s start to the season. Having finished 14th in the Western Conference in 2025, just one season after winning the MLS Cup, the Galaxy enter MLS Week 4 with four points from nine on offer.

Just three points separate these sides ahead of matchday No. 4. A win for Sporting would see them move level on points with their Western Conference rivals. Optimism should be relatively high within the Sporting Kansas City fanbase. 

Last season, it often felt like points were never within reach. However, this campaign has felt different under first-year head coach Wicky. Points from wins feel like they are just around the corner.

Sporting have played well at times in all three fixtures, and Wicky has already installed a fluid system with contingency plans. Across the opening three games, Sporting KC have shifted between formations depending on the game state, adapting to their opponents. It is something Sporting KC didn’t do previously under Peter Vermes, and his rigid 4-3-3 formation. 

A Midfield Reinforcement Arrives

The MLS winter transfer window remains open until March 26. With a squad still lacking overall quality, Sporting KC sporting director David Lee is working to add players capable of improving the side.

One player likely to feature in the starting XI on Saturday is Norwegian midfielder Lasse Berg Johnsen. The midfielder arrived from Malmo for $4 million. Although on the bench last weekend, Johnsen didn’t feature.

Johnsen would likely step into midfield for Jacob Bartlett, who has struggled in the opening three fixtures while partnering Manu Garcia in the center of the park. Johnsen’s addition could provide Sporting’s midfield with another high-quality passer and potentially allow Garcia to push further forward when the team are in possession.

Sporting KC Must Get the Ball to Dejan Joveljic

Getting forward and delivering the ball into attacking areas has been an issue thus far for Sporting. The Wizards have scored just two goals this season, both coming from Dejan Joveljic against the Columbus Crew.

However, Sporting have struggled to get their Serbian hitman involved consistently. The wide players, whether it be Calvin Harris, Shapi, or Jake Davis, have also struggled to receive the ball in positions where they can stretch opposing defenses.

According to FotMob, Joveljic’s expected goals (xG) sits at just 1.62. He has taken only seven shots across three games. That statistic alone demonstrates just how little service the Serbian has received in the final third.

Across three games, Joveljic has recorded just 94 touches, with a mere nine coming inside the opponents’ penalty area. That simply is not good enough for a striker of his quality. The midfield must do a better job linking defense to attack. Johnsen’s arrival should certainly help improve that connection.

Tactical Flexibility vs Galaxy’s Attacking System

Sporting KC have played with notable tactical flexibility. At various points this season, the team has lined up in a 4-3-3, 4-4-2, and even a 5-4-1. Wicky’s approach has shifted depending on the game state.

Vanney, meanwhile, has favored an attacking 4-3-3 formation, utilizing a No. 6 and two No. 8s in midfield. Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil played either side of Joao Klauss in Week 3 against the Colorado Rapids, while former Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus operated as one of the No. 8s.

Joao Klauss: The Galaxy’s New No. 9

LA Galaxy opened the 2026 MLS season with a 1-1 home draw against New York City FC. They followed that result with a dominant 3-0 win over Charlotte FC, scoring all three goals within the opening 13 minutes. Winter signing Joao Klauss bagged two of those goals.

On matchday No. 3, the Galaxy traveled to Colorado to face the Rapids. There, the Galaxy fell 4-1. Klauss scored his fourth goal of the campaign, but Colorado found three late scores to secure the win.

Klauss is undeniably LA Galaxy’s dangerman. The Brazilian striker has been on fire in the early stages of the MLS campaign, scoring four goals in three games. The Galaxy’s attacking blueprint appears straightforward: get the ball wide and deliver it into the box for Klauss.

The striker joined the club in the offseason from St. Louis City, as the Galaxy finally found a replacement for Joveljic. Joveljic, of course, signed for Sporting KC in January 2025, just weeks after helping the Galaxy lift the MLS Cup.

Fatigue Could Play a Role

Sporting Kansas City may be underdogs heading into Week 4, but LA Galaxy could arrive with slightly heavier legs.

The Galaxy played midweek, defeating Mount Pleasant 3-0 in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16. Pec scored a hat-trick in the victory.

Both Pec, who leads the Galaxy in assists this season, and Klauss played the full 90 minutes in that match.

Sporting KC will also face a familiar opponent in former midfielder Erik Thommy, who joined the Galaxy in the offseason after four seasons in Kansas City. Thommy made his first appearance for the Galaxy in week 3 against the Rapids, coming on as a second half substitute.

Recent History Between the Clubs

In 2025, Sporting KC and LA Galaxy split their season series with one win apiece. Sporting claimed a 1-0 home win at Sporting Park thanks to a Maya Yoshida own goal. The Galaxy won the reverse fixture 4-1 behind a Joseph Paintsil hat-trick, with Diego Fagundez adding another goal. Joveljic scored Sporting KC’s lone strike in that match.

Sporting Kansas City hold a 4W-3D-3L record in their last 10 matches against the LA Galaxy in all competitions. However, recent form in this fixture has not favored the Wizards. Just one of the teams’ last seven meetings ended in a Sporting KC victory.

Interestingly, LA Galaxy head coach Vanney does not have a particularly strong historical record against Sporting KC. His all-time record against the Wizards stands at just 3W-6D-6L.

Two MLS Originals

These clubs are two of MLS’s original franchises. Across 74 all-time meetings, Sporting Kansas City have posted a record of 27W-18D-29L against the Galaxy.

Former Sporting Kansas City midfielder Preki scored 13 goals against the LA Galaxy during his career, making him the all-time top scorer in matches between the clubs. Galaxy legend Cobi Jones scored 12 goals in meetings between the sides.

Can Sporting KC pick up a first win of the season against the LA Galaxy? There is plenty of promise in this Sporting team. If Johnsen starts, it could give the club the midfield steel it has missed in the opening three games of the campaign. Sporting will need to get their attacking players involved early and often. Meanwhile, the defense will need to marshal Klauss in the final third.