Soccer <\/p>\n
There’ll be no post-Rivalry Week hangover on MLS Matchday 15, thanks to all the high-stakes games on tap this weekend.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The budding SoCal rivalry between San Diego FC<\/a> and LA Galaxy<\/a> returns for Round 2, while slumping Inter Miami CF<\/a> visit Supporters’ Shield-leading Philadelphia Union<\/a> in desperate need of a win.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n To cap off the action, Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire pits Atlanta United<\/a> against FC Cincinnati<\/a> in a battle between two clubs on opposite ends of the Eastern Conference standings.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n San Diego FC host the first return fixture of their debut MLS season, welcoming the LA Galaxy to Snapdragon Stadium for a Saturday matinee.<\/p>\n The Chrome-and-Azul famously beat their California neighbors on opening weekend, riding an Anders Dreyer<\/a> brace to a 2-0 win<\/a> that put all of MLS on notice. The league is still paying close attention to the expansion side, who are riding a four-game unbeaten run and sit third in the Western Conference on 24 points.<\/p>\n Dreyer (6g\/6a) and fellow Designated Player Chucky Lozano<\/a> (4g\/6a) have keyed San Diego’s early success, with additional contributions from midfielders Onni Valakari<\/a> (3g\/5a) and US international Luca de la Torre<\/a> (2g\/1a).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Galaxy, by contrast, are amid a historically poor start to a season \u2013 going winless through their first 14 games (0W-10L-4D, four points).<\/p>\n However, there could be light at the end of the tunnel for the reigning MLS Cup champions, who are coming off a gutsy 2-2 El Tr\u00e1fico draw<\/a> against crosstown rivals LAFC<\/a> thanks to a brace from Marco Reus<\/a>. The legendary German midfielder has stepped up amid Riqui Puig<\/a>‘s long-term ACL injury, producing 3g\/3a over his last five matches.<\/p>\n With DPs Gabriel Pec<\/a> and Joseph Paintsil<\/a> returning from their own injury struggles, the Galaxy are looking to start building confidence and accumulating wins to keep their slim Audi MLS Cup Playoff hopes alive.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Philadelphia Union are flying high in their first season under new head coach Bradley Carnell, topping the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings with a 9W-3L-2D record (29 points).<\/p>\n Unbeaten in their last six, including a two-game winning streak, the Union also boast Golden Boot presented by Audi leader Tai Baribo<\/a>, the league’s top scorer with 11 goals.<\/p>\n But it’s far from a one-man show for Philly, who’ve gotten massive contributions from rising homegrown Quinn Sullivan<\/a> (1g\/7a), fellow midfielder Danley Jean Jacques<\/a> (2g\/3a) and left back Kai Wagner<\/a> (0g\/5a). Even 19-year-old goalkeeper Andrew Rick<\/a> has chipped in with two clean sheets in five matches during Andre Blake<\/a>‘s time on the sidelines with an adductor injury.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Inter Miami are facing a reality practically unknown since Lionel Messi<\/a>‘s transformational arrival in the summer of 2023: they look vulnerable.<\/p>\n Messi admitted as much<\/a> following their 3-0 defeat<\/a> to Orlando City SC<\/a> on Sunday Night Soccer, a result that extended the Herons’ slump to 1W-5L-1D over their past seven matches across all competitions.<\/p>\n Fellow FC Barcelona legend Luis Su\u00e1rez<\/a> was back in the lineup for Matchday 14’s Florida Derby following a two-game absence, but, as Messi pointed out during his post-match interview with MLS Season Pass, it’ll take more than individual talent to right the ship.<\/p>\n “Now we\u2019re really going to see if we\u2019re a team,” Messi said ahead of Miami’s upcoming stretch of three league matches before next month’s 2025 FIFA Club World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Atlanta United’s ambitious winter transfer window had fans and experts alike expecting big things from the Five Stripes this year.<\/p>\n So far, however, it’s been a disappointing 2025 campaign, with MLS-record signing Emmanuel Latte Lath<\/a> and returning club legend Miguel Almir\u00f3n<\/a> looking to spark life into a side that’s winless in eight (0W-5L-3D), including a 1-0 home loss<\/a> to Philadelphia in their most recent outing.<\/p>\n Is a turnaround coming for Atlanta? There’s arguably no scenario more ideal than playing in front of their home fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium under the Sunday Night Soccer spotlight.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n \n
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