The LA Galaxy will play their first of five matches in 16 days when they visit the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, Match 7 for Matchday 3. It’s not the kindest place to visit for LA during their first league away trip this season, cue altitude excuses, but the Galaxy will be buoyed by their unbeaten start to the season.
They’ll also be encouraged by the opponent, who has a new coach, a new tactical approach, system, and new players to work into the mix. Throw in a hot start for new LA Galaxy João Klauss, and at least on paper, the Galaxy will fancy its chances to get a win.
But they’ll need to start just as they have in their previous two games, by taking the first 15 minutes of the match from their foes. Easier said than done on the road, but king altitude might dictate that approach from LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney.
The big question will be whether we will see the Galaxy team that wasted plenty of chances against NYCFC, or the history-making, clinical finishing the Galaxy displayed vs. Charlotte. LA’s success and hope of getting three points in this game depends on which version of the Galaxy shows up in Colorado.
Whichever version of the attack shows up, back Jakob Glesnes and the defense to continue their composed start.
LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
LA Galaxy’s Current Run of Form
It’s only been two games, but the early returns are promising. The 2026 Galaxy have already bettered their 2025 version by winning their first game this season. During their last campaign, it took the G’s 17 matches to do so.
They currently sit on four points, good enough for 5th place in the league table, a spot they haven’t tasted since 2024. For context, it took LA 14 matches to reach 4 points in 2025.
And they should probably have all six points and two wins under their belt.
They opened the campaign with a game they should’ve won, with new fan favorite João Klauss scoring after 85 seconds to put the Galaxy ahead, only to see Emiro Garces get a red card and a penalty that would see the Galaxy drop points.
The Galaxy would not be denied during Matchday 2, however. They jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 15 minutes, a record in Galaxy history, to kill the game and zap away any early will Charlotte might have.
And Greg Vanney said that was by design.
“The message in the locker room going out was, let's win the first 15 minutes, just because it's the fourth game [in ten days] and you just want to start the game with energy and intensity. They certainly won the first 15 minutes. That's what we were just talking about. I thought it was two [goals], but it was three inside the 15, so that was great,” Vanney shared in a post-match press conference after the Charlotte victory.
“I was pleased with the energy. Felt like we unlocked some things tonight that felt a little bit slow in some of the other games.”
Vanney will be hoping that his team did indeed unlock something. They'll need it for their first away game this season.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Joao Klauss (99) scores a goal during an MLS game, Sunday, February 22nd, 2026, in Carson, Calif
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Colorado’s Current Run of Form
The sample size is small, but we could be watching a new-look Rapids team.
That remains to be seen.
New Coach Matt Wells has tried to install a high-pressure system that the Rapids have only grasped at times so far this campaign.
It led to a great showing in the Rapids' last preseason match, a stinging rebuke by Seattle, and a bounce-back home win over Portland.
“The last three performances… Orlando: exceptional; Seattle: we didn’t turn up as ourselves; today: very good. I’m not going to say exceptional, because there’s another leap to go. Believe me, you can’t even see it yet. This is five weeks into a project, so everything we do, do we get carried away? It’s three points on the board, that’s it. No more than that.”
The Rapids were offensively dominant, creating five big chances and taking nine shots on goal. But they will be most heartened that it is two young players who showed up as the heroes of their recent win.
Goals by Hamzat Ojediran and Lucas Herrington carried the day, and look for Ojediran and his midfield teammates to try to impose their will on the Galaxy through their energy and movement.
If they can, Wells could very well be hyping up another three points on the board.
Recent Head-To-Head
This will be the first meeting between these teams this season. In 2025, they met twice and split the series. Colorado took the first match 2-0 on June 25, 2025, while the Galaxy returned the favor with a 3-0 win in LA last August.
Each winner held the loser to a shutout, with the Galaxy’s 3-0 win being one of LA’s strongest games last campaign.
They’ll be hoping to continue that to remain unbeaten. History hasn’t been kind to the Galaxy in Colorado, though. In 87 all-time regular-season matches against the Rapids, the Galaxy hold a 41-33-13 record, but only a 14-22-7 record on the road.
Matchday 3️⃣ coming in HOT! 🤩
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 5, 2026
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LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Prediction
Look for the first 15 minutes and the last 15 minutes of this match to determine the winner.
The Galaxy’s game model has been built on overwhelming opposition early, and it has worked to varying degrees.
NYCFC never looked dangerous against LA, and Charlotte even less so.
But those games were at home at sea level.
90 minutes at altitude represents something different altogether.
If the Galaxy haven’t been able to win this match before then, the last 15 minutes will become a grind.
In the previous two matches, the way they've started has carried the day.
Against the Rapids, the last 15 will likely determine who takes the three points.
If the Galaxy can win each 15-minute phase, they will most likely remain undefeated to start the season.
