Revolution vs. LA Galaxy: What to Watch For

After two consecutive home matches, the New England Revolution travel cross-country to face one of the league's hottest teams in the LA Galaxy. Tomorrow's matchup screams mismatch in favor of the home side. The Galaxy have yet to lose at their home stadium this season, while the Revs have not picked up a win on the road. Los Angeles has tallied the most goals scored in the league, meanwhile New England has conceded the second highest total. During this extended rough patch for the visitors, it will take extreme focus and a splash of luck to earn a result.

Current form:

New England: LDD

Last weekend, I wrote that frustration among Revolution supporters was at its peak. I was incorrect, however, and the frustration is growing week-by-week. Last Saturday, the Revolution hosted Orlando City SC and came minutes away from getting a taste of a win for the first time in a month. OCSC winger Carlos Rivas had something else to say, and equalized in the 90th minute. The Revolution played the best they had during their five-match winless streak, which made the missed two points even more frustrating. Players such as Juan Agudelo and Femi Hollinger-Janzen gave their best performances of the season. It will take this strong play and a little more to gain points tomorrow.

LA Galaxy: WWD

The Galaxy of late have gone down a different path as the Revs and are currently riding a six-game unbeaten streak, the longest in MLS. These results have not been skimpy either, taking points from Western Conference playoff teams including leaders Real Salt Lake. The Galaxy are finally playing to the standard of the big names on their roster, sporting the best goal difference in the league by a landslide.

Player to Watch:

New England:

With Charlie Davies and Teal Bunbury questionable for another match, it looks like Femi Hollinger-Janzen will start at the top for the second straight week. Femi impressed in his first career start last weekend, hungry to score a goal for 70 minutes. He has been a bright spot in this dark first two months for the Revs, and has pleased Head Coach Jay Heaps enough to earn six appearances. Femi will be on the scoresheet sooner rather than later, and tomorrow would be the perfect time to open his campaign.

LA Galaxy:

Fans of MLS remember Nigel de Jong's tackle on Portland's Darlington Nagbe a few weeks ago. De Jong's boot did not appear to go for the ball at all, and his studs made firm contact with Nagbe's ankle. De Jong, a notoriously dirty player, received a three-match suspension. He returns this weekend against the Revolution. Will he come back playing as physically as normal, or will he be more cautious and reserved?

The Revolution are about to embark on a tough stretch of their schedule, and look to turn around the path of their season during it. That will start tomorrow afternoon, but the Revs will need to put on their best performance of the year to do so. Which players do you think will step up or step down tomorrow? Will the Revs walk away with their second win of the season?

The Revolution travel to Carson, CA to face the Galaxy Sunday afternoon at 3:30 EST.