Revolution vs. Galaxy 2013: Preview and Game Notes

The New England Revolution take on the LA Galaxy in an afternoon game today, braving the sun and the heat to give the West Coaster's a real New England welcome. It would make more sense if it were 40 degrees and raining, but whatever.

The match is also coming directly on the heels of a United States friendly against Germany, which should make for interesting viewing. Sunday games are usually afternoon affairs, yes, but why would you have an MLS game directly after a USMNT match? Probably because said MLS game is on national TV.

The all-time series between the two sides is pretty even, with the Revs holding a 14-16-6 disadvantage to the Galaxy since the league was formed in 1996. At home they're better, going 9-6-2. The last meeting between the two sides was an early-season 3-1 victory in LA for the Revolution. Of course, the Galaxy went on to lift the MLS Cup, while the Revs finished near-last in the East.

REVOLUTION INJURY REPORT

OUT: Kevin Alston (Disabled list, Illness), Dimitry Imbongo (L Groin Strain), Clyde Simms (R Knee Sprain), Donnie Smith (L Hamstring Strain)
QUESTIONABLE: Ryan Guy (L Calf Strain)

GALAXY INJURY REPORT

OUT: Jack McBean (Fractured L Clavicle)

TEAM NOTES

• Saturday's game will be 37th all-time meeting between the Revs and Galaxy, with LA leading the all-time, regular-season series history, 16-14-6
• The Revs are 9-6-2 at home against LA, including a 6-2-2 mark at Gillette Stadium
• Sunday's match will be the first - and only - time that the two teams meet in 2013
• The Revs won the only meeting between the two teams in 2012, a 3-1 win in LA on March 31...Kelyn Rowe scored his first career goal in the win
• The Galaxy won the 2011 season series with a 1-0-1 mark...the teams opened the 2011 season with a 1-1 draw, in Carson Calif., on March 20...LA earned a 1-0 road win on May 28, at Gillette Stadium to cap the series
• LA won the first four season series (1996-99) between the two clubs, but nine consecutive season series were either won by the Revs or drawn between 2000 and 2008
• In the last 10 meetings, there have been five shutouts and only the Revs have scored more than two goals in a single game...before last year's 3-1 win at The Home Depot Center, New England's last three-goal game against the Galaxy came on May 12, 2007, a 3-2 win at The Home Depot Center
• New England and LA have met in the MLS Cup Playoffs twice - in both MLS Cup 2002 and MLS Cup 2005...the Galaxy won both meetings in overtime by a 1-0 score...the 2002 meeting was in Foxborough, while the 2005 match was at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas
• The Revs and Galaxy have played in one U.S. Open Cup match - the 2001 championship game in Fullerton, Calif., which LA won, 2-1, in overtime

PLAYER NOTES

• Kelyn Rowe scored his first career MLS goal in a 3-1 win last season against the Galaxy
• Chris Tierney has recorded one goal against the Galaxy, the game-winner on March 31, 2012
• Andy Dorman has one goal and two assists in seven career games against the Galaxy
• Chad Barrett has one assist against his former club in nine career appearances
• Saer Sene is the only other current member of the Revs who has scored a goal against the Galaxy...Sene scored in the 3-1 win last season
• Matt Reis - a former Galaxy player himself who made 39 appearances for the Galaxy from 1998-2002 - is 7-3-4 in 14 regular-season matches against his former club...he has recorded four shutouts and posted a 0.93 goals against average
• Bobby Shuttleworth has never made an appearance against the Galaxy

BROADCAST INFORMATION

TV: NBC Sports Network, 4:30 PM EDT
RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 4:30 PM EDT