The San Jose Earthquakes head to Southern California on Wednesday, August 19, to face the LA Galaxy in the 106th California Clasico across all competitions. Kickoff from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson is slated for 7:30 p.m. PT, with the match to be broadcast on Apple TV (English/Spanish), FS1 (English), FOX Deportes (Spanish), as well as via local radio on KSFO 810 AM (English) and La Kaliente 1370 AM (Spanish).
The Quakes will be looking to return to the win column after a setback last Saturday against St. Louis CITY SC. Playmaker Niko Tsakiris returned to the lineup for the first time since May 2 after undergoing surgery on his right groin. At the time of the injury, the 21-year-old from nearby Saratoga had established himself as one of the top attacking midfielders in the league after helping lead the Earthquakes to an MLS-best 9-1-1 record.
To demonstrate how dominant Tsakiris had been before his absence, despite not playing in over three months (a span of seven league games), he still ranked in the top 10 among all MLS players this season in assists (7), crosses (23), corner kicks (54) and chances created per 90 minutes (3.5) upon his return.
The Earthquakes stand fourth in the Western Conference (10-6-3, 33 points) entering Wednesday’s rivalry clash in Southern California, while the Galaxy are 13th (5-8-7, 22 points). In their first meeting this season at Stanford Stadium, the two teams battled to a 1-1 draw in front of 43,026 fans to crack the top 10 of highest-attended games in Major League Soccer this season. Joseph Paintsil opened the scoring for LA but Reid Roberts equalized for the Quakes to salvage the point.
The Galaxy enters Wednesday's fixture winless in five matches since the World Cup break, having lost three matches amongst the return of play, with their most recent result being a 1-0 road defeat to the Houston Dynamo.
However, throw the records out the window when it comes to derbies, especially the most historic and intense rivalry in Major League Soccer. Not only will the Galaxy be hosting the Cali Clasico, they’ve added two quality players since the first match in Mexican National Team star Hirving “Chucky” Lozano and former FC Barcelona standout Sergi Roberto. To add that firepower to an established star like Marco Reus—who set up Paintsil’s goal in Stanford—presents a challenge for the Earthquakes’ back line to return to its early form.
Additionally, a pair of legendary coaches—San Jose’s Bruce Arena and LA Galaxy’s Greg Vanney, who share between them seven Audi MLS Cups—will match wits once more.
With the season series on the line and the Western Conference standings tightening each week, the Quakes look to avenge their frustrating previous Cali Clasico result against a Galaxy side that is fighting tooth and nail to get back in the playoff picture.