La Galaxy vs Cruz Azul – LA Galaxy cruised past Cruz Azul in their Leagues Cup opener after Cruz Azul was humiliated 7–0 by Seattle. Get full match preview, key stats and the tournament implications.
Tournament & Match Background
Leagues Cup Format and Stakes
The Leagues Cup 2025 start from July 29 to August 31 and the leagues cup featuring 36 teams, 18 from MLS including LA Galaxy. Also 18 from Liga MX as Cruz Azul. In every game of Phase One is strictly MLS vs Liga MX. The top four teams from each league advance to the knockout rounds, and match winners earn 3 points, draws go to a shootout for bonus points.
Setting the Scene: Galaxy vs Cruz Azul Preview
On August 3, 2025, LA Galaxy hosts Cruz Azul at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, with kickoff at 7:30 pm PT (10:30 pm ET) on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV+. This is only their second official meeting—Cruz Azul previously beat Galaxy 2–1 in the 2019 tournament semifinal in L.A..
Recent Form & Team Momentum
Cruz Azul’s Collapse vs Seattle
Cruz Azul’s tournament began with a disastrous 7–0 loss to Seattle Sounders and the worst defeat in Leagues Cup history, with all goals conceded in the second half and Propelled them to last in the Liga MX table margins.
Galaxy’s Opener vs Tijuana
Galaxy opened with a convincing 5–2 win over Club Tijuana, led by Joseph Paintsil (two goals & an assist) and Matheus Nascimento (a goal + assist). Galaxy looked energized in attack after a poor domestic MLS run.
This sets up a notable mismatch: Galaxy on the rise vs Cruz Azul reeling in group play.
Tactical Preview: Galaxy vs Cruz Azul Matchup
Galaxy Strengths
- Fluid attack through Paintsil, Nascimento, and Marco Reus.
- A high-scoring outlook: Galaxy netted 14 goals in their last five pre-Leagues Cup matches.
- Hosting advantage: sold-out crowd with tactical familiarity and attacking momentum.
Cruz Azul Weaknesses
- Defense in shambles only one clean sheet this season before the Seattle mauling.
- Fatigue concerns: traveled from Seattle to Los Angeles quickly after blowout loss.
- Key attackers like Angel Sepulveda need to produce support output in attack.
Galaxy vs Cruz Azul: What to Watch and How It Impacts Standings
- This is Galaxy’s second Leagues Cup match: a win here gives them 6 points, sealing strong position in MLS standings table.
- For Cruz Azul, another loss opens a massive mountain: they must win all remaining games and swing goal difference to advance.
- Alliance between MLS and Liga MX group points means every goal gap matters. Galaxy could clinch knockout qualification after this game.
Starting Lineups & Key Player Battles
Galaxy XI (Aug 3)
- GK: Novak Micovic; defenders: Miki Yamane, Emiro Garces, Zanka, Julian Aude
- Midfield: Edwin Cerrillo, Diego Fagundez, Lucas Sanabria
- Forwards: Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, Marco Reus
Cruz Azul Outlook
While detailed Cruz Azul lineup not released yet, analysts predict Angel Sepulveda, Carlos Rotondi, and Carlos Rodriguez in attack force. Defensive frailty will be tested against Galaxy’s wide playmakers.
Predictions
- Odds favor LA Galaxy to win (+188); Cruz Azul underdogs at +115; draw +290.
- Predictions lean toward over 3.5 goals, as both sides are prone to conceding. Galaxy’s scoring power matched with Cruz Azul’s defensive collapse leads to explosive betting value.
- Galaxy’s Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil are favorable anytime scorer picks; Cruz Azul’s rotating attack limits their confidence.
Broader Leagues Cup and Rivalry Context
- Galaxy aims to assert dominance at home under hosting privileges as MLS Cup champions.
- Cruz Azul, ranked top among Liga MX per tournament seeding, faces pressure given poor phase one start, mirrored across Liga MX’s overall slide vs MLS dominance.