El Tráfico: Galaxy’s ‘Chicharito’ and LAFC’s Vela will finally square off Saturday

The primary intercity conflict between LAFC and the Galaxy was simply greater than an hour outdated when Zlatan Ibrahimovic left the Galaxy bench and took Sebastian Lletget’s place on the sphere. Over the following 25 minutes, the larger-than-life Swedish famous person would rating two unattainable targets, erasing targets in every half by LAFC’s Carlos Vela and setting the muse for a rivalry that, in 4 brief years, has change into the fiercest in Southern California skilled sports activities.

From the beginning in 2018, the video games between the 2 neighbors, separated by a dozen miles of freeway, has been about massive performs and greater personalities. Ibrahimovic and Vela mixed for 18 targets within the first six conferences, the final a 2019 playoff match that proved to be Ibrahimovic’s ultimate MLS look.

So when the Galaxy signed Javier “Chicharito” Hernández earlier than the 2020 season, the matchup was anticipated to middle on him and Vela, World Cup teammates with Mexico. That didn’t occur.

Accidents saved them from showing on the sphere collectively within the final seven renewals of the rivalry, generally known as El Tráfico, however that’s anticipated to alter Saturday when Hernández and Vela, lastly wholesome on the similar time, lead their groups into the primary grudge match of the season at Dignity Well being Sports activities Park.

Requested this week what which means, Hernández was succinct.

“It implies that LAFC goes to be method higher than the final sport,” he mentioned.

“I like him. I like him,” he continued of Vela. “However then when the whistle goes, he’s nobody for me.”

What the rivalry means to Vela is anybody’s guess since LAFC’s captain, who hasn’t spoken publicly this season, abruptly canceled a scheduled session with the media Thursday. What is understood is that LAFC hasn’t overwhelmed the Galaxy in Carson in six tries and hasn’t overwhelmed them anyplace in a sport Vela has began since a playoff match three years in the past.

All that, Hernández mentioned, means nothing.

“Carlos Vela [wouldn’t] be nobody with out his teammates. Myself too,” he mentioned. “I feel solely Messi and Ronaldo can play by themselves and win championships. Aside from these two, all of us rely on everybody.”

Possibly. But Hernández and Vela, who’re tied for second within the MLS scoring race with 4 targets in 5 video games, have actually stood aside in serving to their groups get off to quick begins this season.

The Galaxy (3-2-0) are third within the Western Convention, with Hernández accounting for 4 of the staff’s seven targets. LAFC (4-0-1), one of many league’s three unbeaten groups, tops the Supporters’ Protect standings and likewise shares the league lead with 13 targets. Vela, with 4 targets and two assists, has had a hand in practically half of these scores.

Each gamers began within the youth program at Chivas of Guadalajara earlier than enjoying in two World Cups collectively. Hernández is Mexico’s all-time main scorer; Vela is fourth amongst lively gamers.

They’ve confronted one another solely thrice as opponents, twice in Champions League play when Hernández was at Manchester United and Vela at Actual Sociedad, and the final time, greater than seven years in the past, in a La Liga sport after Hernández moved to Actual Madrid.

“They’re clearly each nice gamers,” LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo mentioned. “They usually each have wonderful qualities, every totally different in their very own proper. However there are additionally 20 different gamers within the area with lots of high quality and that’s the place the sport might be determined.”

Given the historical past of the sequence and the cult of persona that helped spawn it, these different gamers would be the supporting solid Saturday. The principle characters within the newest chapter of MLS’s most passionate feud might be Hernández, the likable, quick-talking gunslinger with the matinee-idol beauty, who might be in Galaxy white, and Vela, the quiet, smoldering, misunderstood anti-hero, who will put on LAFC black.

And that’s simply high-quality with the one man who has performed on each side of the rivalry.

“I actually don’t care,” mentioned Galaxy defender Raheem Edwards, who performed for LAFC final season. “So long as we’re enjoying nicely, we’re profitable, I don’t care who will get the popularity. I simply need three factors.”