The LA Galaxy have really benefited from the end of international summer tournaments and look like a serious force on the field in July. The last three games they played saw them sweep the Cascadia teams with three wins and four goals. The statistics get even more impressive when you realize they haven’t let in a goal during those past three games or since June 25th.

Looking at the Houston Dynamo (4-6-8) they have managed just one goal in their previous two games earning them a win and a draw. A late set piece goal put them over the top against the Union and then they drug out a super-boring no goal game against the struggling Orlando FC.

Houston Dynamo put out some bad news for their defense on Monday when they confirmed that defender and former USMT player DaMarcus Beasley will miss this game due to knee surgery. The last time Houston Dynamo won without Beasley playing in the game was back on July 25th, 2015 when they beat the LA Galaxy 3-0 in Houston. The Houston back line has managed a shut out in the last two games with relative ease. Both games saw did however see Beasley on the field and their 4-1-4-1 formation they have been using as of late.

The LA Galaxy will be without defender Ashley Cole (Hamstring) and surprisingly without midfielder Nigel De Jong who was issued an additional game suspension by the MLS Disciplinary Committee.

The Houston back line will have plenty to worry about as Robbie Keane has scored a goal in both of his MLS games since returning from the Euro 2016 tournament. If Robbie Keane happens to score again in this game the statistics will tell you that the Galaxy should be on the way to victory. Galaxy is 5-0-0 in 2016 when Keane has scored a goal.

The Galaxy has really seen some of its new arrivals shine this month as well. Jeff Larentowicz is one to keep an eye on this Friday, as his performance really impressed me against Seattle. Nobody is talking about his performances ad-nauseam because he isn’t a DP for the club but he has brought out some serious value in his key plays over the last few games. MLS did put him on the Team of the Week for his great performance versus Seattle.

Giles Barnes was the shinning light for Houston on offense against Orlando FC but failed to convert on his own great goal chance of the night by hitting the goal post and putting a near perfect header on goal against the Union that was magically blocked.

I cannot see this game playing to a scoreless stalemate so one team will open up the scoring and then I see the game playing very open after that even with Houston trying to jam up the midfield.

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