Inter Miami look to continue hot-streak, while LA Galaxy target top spot

Sean Fisher
12 August 2021

Gonzalo Higuain celebrates scoring for Inter Miami with his teammates, MLS, 2021

With another week of MLS action around the corner, Phil Neville looks to continue Inter Miami’s momentum, while LA Galaxy will be hoping to overcome their Chicharito blues.

Inter Miami have a long way to go to get into the MLS play-off picture, but they bolstered their chances with a 2-1 win over Nashville last weekend to continue their run of positive results.

Phil Neville's squad can accomplish franchise history this weekend with a win or draw in a fifth straight game, but will face difficult opposition in the shape of third-placed New York City FC.

Since being blown out 5-0 at home on July 21, they have conceded just four goals in the last four games and registered two draws and two wins.

Gonzalo Higuain is the engine that makes the Herons go, and getting him back to 100 per cent has been crucial to their success.

Kieran Gibbs, Inter Miami, Orlando City, MLS, 2021

Inter Miami's moves in the Summer Transfer Window have paid off too, with both Kieran Gibbs and Indiana Vassilev collecting their first MLS goals during the recent stretch of fixtures.

The arrival of new signings and players returning from injury also allowed Neville to switch to a 3-4-3 formation for the last two games. As a result, Miami has a draw and a win in those games, and they looked as dominant as ever against Nashville last weekend.

The other change made by Neville during this run was a change of captaincy. In the first 12 games, Miami saw four different players take the armband, before it eventually found a home with Brazilian midfielder Gregore on July 25.

Miami's new-found captain has three assists so far in the season and they currently boast a +2 goal differential since he took charge.

Galaxy can go top this weekend

The Los Angeles Galaxy have treaded water without Chicharito for the last six weeks, but they enter play this weekend with the chance to go top of the Western Conference.

The Galaxy travel to Minnesota United on 32 points, while title rivals Sporting KC (34pts) and Seattle Sounders (33pts) play their fixtures later in the weekend.

The Galaxy had Jonathan dos Santos back from Mexico's Gold Cup run and gave him back the armband for Sunday's 1-1 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps.

LA Galaxy, MLS, Vancouver Whitecaps, 2021

Kevin Cabral scored the goal, but the Galaxy have still struggled going forward without Chicharito. The Mexican has 10 goals in 10 games this season, while no other player on the squad has more than four.

In the eight games without Chicharito, the Galaxy have three wins and two draws but have scored two goals or less six times.

However, the Galaxy also played a handful of those games without their Gold Cup participants, who are now back and raring to go.

The Galaxy have recently reverted to a 4-3-3 without Chicharito available as the lone striker in the 4-2-3-1 they employed in the first 10 games of the season.

Minnesota United gained 19 of their 26 points at home this season with six wins in nine games. They have come a long way since starting the season with a four-game losing streak. The Loons have just one loss since May 8 and enter the weekend with a five-game point streak.

Minnesota United enter the game as favourites, but the chance to go top could spur on the Galaxy to upset the odds.