Whatever the result of their last match in Minnesota was going to be, the Los Angeles Football Club would have needed to cast it aside and deal with a quick turnaround as the Galaxy visit the Banc of California Stadium on Thursday for the second “El Trafico” derby.

Losing 5-1 in the fashion that they did, however, requires some reflection.

Was this a case of looking past Minnesota, which LAFC had previously defeated 2-0 on their field?

Was this tied to Bob Bradley’s limited match-day options and the fact that his lineup didn’t include regular starters Carlos Vela, Lee Nguyen, Walker Zimmerman or Steven Beitashour?

Was this simply another incident when, despite its wonderful moments, LAFC (10-5-5, 35 points) stumbled like it did after playing an hour against the Galaxy on March 31?

Pick your answer, but the bottom line, said Bradley: “It was bad from front to back and back to front. When things got away from us we didn’t play football.”

In his eighth season as a player in Major League Soccer, Benny Feilhaber has seen how the parity of the league can devour teams, prompting them to drop games and points even when they appear to be clicking.

Losing four, five or six in a row, Feilhaber said, “that’s one thing we don’t want to do.”

With the Galaxy on deck, with LAFC’s unbeaten streak of 12 match in all competitions at Banc of California Stadium hanging in the balance, even two losses in a row would be a bitter pill to swallow.

“After this Minnesota game, which was possibly our worst game of the year, I think hopefully we have a good result, a good reaction from that,” Feilhaber said. “Our team has seemed to be able to do that, and obviously we need to keep on going. I think that’s one of the things that kind of shows if you’re a pretty good team or not.”

Bradley expects a full compliment of midfielders to choose from alongside Feilhaber, including Colombian Eduard Atuesta, who is recovered from an ankle injury; Portuguese designated player Andre Horta; Lee Nguyen off a suspension for a red card; Mark-Anthony Kaye, who is unbothered by a tight hamstring; and Carlos Vela, who is well rested after remaining in L.A. over the weekend.

“When we play at home we have to take the responsibility to take the ball, move the ball, play our football,” said Carlos Vela, who scored twice in the first ‘El Trafico.’ “We are a strong team at home and I hope we can still be this way. Our fans for sure are excited and ready to growl all game.”

Galaxy supporters should make their presence known while they cheer on a team that has looked in good form as it took points in their last seven league matches, including three straight wins.

Forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s introduction to the match on March 31 kicked the Galaxy’s four-goal derby comeback into high gear, and he has continued to produce, finishing 12 goals and assisting on four more in 15 matches.

Partnering Ibrahimovic with forward Ola Kamara, Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid found a potent lineup that elevated the Carson-based team to within two points of third place in the conference.

LAFC’s best defense against Ibrahimovic? Play the way they failed to in Minnesota, Bradley said, by executing a solid team game, controlling the ball, and preventing the Galaxy (9-7-4, 31 points) from feeding the Swede in spots where he can turn and attack.

There’s no accounting, of course, for audacious 40-yard volleys out of nowhere that cut teams to their core.

“The one thing you can point to is the disappointment we had at StubHub at the beginning of the season and we have a chance to right that wrong,” Feilhaber said. “So we’re excited about that.”

LAFC vs. L.A. GALAXY

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes

RADIO: 710 AM, 980 AM