Starting XI

Clement Diop; Nathan Smith, Daniel Steres, Jelle Van Damme ©, Ashley Cole; Romain Alessandrini, Jermaine Jones, João Pedro, Emmanuel Boateng; Giovani dos Santos, Gyasi Zardes

Bench

Brian Rowe, Rafael Garcia, Dave Romney, Baggio Husidic, Bradford Jamieson IV, Jose Villarreal, Jack McBean

Lineup notes

LA Galaxy Head Coach Curt Onalfo will trot out what will be a nearly full-strength lineup Friday night against the Galaxy’s second-straight Canadian foe, highlighted by forward Gyasi Zardes’ first start of the 2017 season.

In net, the young and talented Clement Diop again gets the start in net, marking his fourth-straight start for the Galaxy. Diop has been a standout for LA Galaxy II over the last two seasons.

On the right side, Nathan “SMITTY” Smith will make his second-straight start along the Galaxy backline. Smith has impressed in action this year after signing with the club from LA Galaxy II this offseason.

In the center of defense, Daniel Steres will make his fifth-straight start for the Galaxy, one of just three players to start every game this season. Steres has been steady since joining the Galaxy before last season after two rock-solid seasons for Los Dos in USL.

He’s big, bald, beautiful and Belgian, and he will again captain the Galaxy Friday night: 2016 MLS Best XI Defender Jelle Van Damme. JVD will lead the defense as they look to bounce back from conceding four goals on the road to Vancouver last weekend.

On the left side of defense, Major League Soccer’s best left back, Ashley Cole, will start his second-straight match after missing the first four games of the season with a calf injury. Cole looked like he didn’t miss a beat last weekend vs. Vancouver.

On the right side of the field, the in-form Frenchman Romain Alessandrini gets the start, his fifth of the season. The former Marseille player has found his groove, recording two goals and two assists in his last two games.

In the center of the field, the Portuguese midfielder Joao Pedro will also start in his fifth straight contest, the fifth game of his MLS career. Pedro joined just ahead of the start of the season from Portugal’s top-flight division. He also had incredible hair.

Alongside Pedro is USMNT and MLS veteran midfielder Jermaine Jones, who makes his second start since returning from duties with the USMNT. Jones continues to be a beast in the center of the field for LA and will look to dictate play Friday evening vs. Montreal.

On the left is the incredibly-short-but-also-incredibly-fast-and-good-at-soccer Ema Boateng, who has a goal and an assist in his last two games. Boateng has filled in on the wing since an injury to midfielder Sebastian Lletget, and will be the fastest player on the field Friday.

Up top, the charming and handsome Giovani dos Santos will pull the strings for the Galaxy offense as the #10. Last year, Gio was one of two MLS players to record over 10 goals and 10 assists on the season. He is the only Galaxy player to score at StubHub Center this year.

At striker, the Galaxy hometown hero and Hawthorne product Gyasi Zardes is back. Back again. Gyasi’s back. Tell a friend. Zardes makes his first MLS start of the young season Friday night against Montreal after earning his first minutes last weekend against Vancouver.

Game Notes

In the past five seasons, the Galaxy have recorded one of the best records at home in Major League Soccer.

In the last five years, LA have gone 43-9-19 at StubHub Center while scoring 151 goals and allowing just 61 (+90 goal differential).

This year at home, the Galaxy have gone 0-2-0, scoring one goal and allowing three.

All time, the Galaxy have gone 1-1-3 against the Eastern Conference Montreal Impact, facing the side once each year since they joined MLS in 2012.

In home matches against the Impact, the Galaxy are 1-0-1 all time, earning a 1-0 win in 2013.

In their most recent matchup, the Galaxy fell to the Impact, 3-2 on the road at Saputo Stadium behind a last-minute goal from former forward Didier Drogba in a contest last season.

Friday’s contest will mark the only contest against Montreal this season.

Storylines

Can the Galaxy get their first win at StubHub Center this year?

Will the Galaxy bounce back from last week’s loss to Vancouver?

How will Gyasi Zardes look in his first start of 2017?

How will Clement Diop fare in net?

·If you had to pick between only eating poutine or tacos for the rest of your life, what kind of tacos would you eat?

Quick Hits

Lionel Richie Lyrics - Hello

I’ve been alone with you inside my mind

And in my dreams I’ve scored your goals, a thousand times

I’ve sometimes seen you pass to me before

Hello, is it me you're looking for?

I can see it in your eyes

I can see it in your smile

You're pass is all I’ve wanted and the field is open wide

Cause you know just how to play and you know what to pass through

And I want to tell you so much, play me through

I long to see the sunlight of your flair

And tell you time and time again how much I care

Sometimes I feel StubHub Center will overflow

Hello, I've just got to let you know

Cause I wonder where you are and I wonder what you do

Are you somewhere feeling pressure? Or is someone passing to you?

Tell me how to win this game, for I haven't got a clue

But let me start by saying, play me through

Hello

Is it me you're looking for?

-Lionel Richie (1984)