The Metro Expo Line returns to full service Saturday, August 24 with the reopening of the 7th Street/Metro Center and Pico stations after a two month closure.

The timing couldn’t be any better for L.A. area soccer fans heading to Banc of California Stadium for the second “El Tráfico” clash of the season on Sunday night. The match pits LAFC, the team with the best record in Major League Soccer, against Zlatan Ibrahimovic the LA Galaxy.

The Expo Line Expo Park/USC Station drops fans off about a 10-minute walk through Expo Park from the stadium gates.

At a cost of $3.50 round-trip Metro fare is cheaper than taking ride-share or parking — and beats the usual traffic headaches. On game days taking Metro offers something you won’t get anywhere else: the experience. Nothing beats riding with fellow fans and getting into the spirit of a match long before entering the stadium grounds. It only gets better on the ride home.

#LARams figure out how #LAFC got these fans and try to win them over, because these guys would not quit cheering on the #metro all the way into the parking lot. I assumed they won, but this is how excited they were over a tie!??! pic.twitter.com/ojOrCZRbsC — Jennifer Haake (@JennieHaake) May 23, 2018

Despite LAFC’s strong performances in their first two seasons, they’ve yet to win against their crosstown rivals, mostly due to the play of Ibrahimovic, a Swede who starred in European soccer before coming to the MLS last year. He scored a hat-trick in the Galaxy’s 3-2 win when the teams met earlier this summer at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. Past games between the two have not disappointed — for Galaxy and neutral fans anyway — and anticipation is high for their fifth meeting.

LAFC are currently rolling. They’re atop the standings and five games ahead of second place, which is a huge lead in pro soccer. They’ve already clinched a playoff spot with eight games remaining in the season and are close to clinching a first round bye and home advantage in the post-season. The team is coming off a 4-0 home win against San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday that included this Carlos Vela golazo:

"A goal for the ages from Carlos Vela!"@TalkSoccer on the call for @11carlosV's outrageous goal against the San Jose defense on ESPNLA 710 ?& the ESPN App! #LAFC pic.twitter.com/4QhN1SLJzc — ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) August 22, 2019

LA Galaxy, btw, are in the playoff hunt and as the senior MLS team in our region are hoping to return to their glory days.

For more information on how to take Metro to Banc of California Stadium as well as discounts for TAP card holders at the LAFC HQ store, visit metro.net/lafc. If you arrive to the game early or want to stick around after, here’s a video showing some of the grub available at the stadium’s The Fields LA, an urban-type dining hall.

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