MLS Week 13 Preview: NYCFC seeks redemption, Galaxy head to Montreal
Week 13 of the 2016 MLS season features four days of fixtures for all 20 teams to battle through. Orlando City and the Philadelphia Union opened the action on Wednesday night to a 2-2 draw at the Citrus Bowl.
Here are the three matchups worth watching this weekend in Week 13:
Galactic Impact: Los Angeles vs. Montreal
The LA Galaxy travel to Montreal on Saturday to take on the Montreal Impact who will likely be without Didier Drogba for this star-studded affair. The Canadian club announced midweek that Drogba suffered a hip injury and was questionable for their upcoming encounter with their visitors from California.
"We got the results of the MRI and it's a mild strain of the hip flexor," Impact head coach Mauro Biello said, according to MLSsoccer.com. "He did some work in London and we'll see how he is, how he reacts, and then we'll make a decision on if he'll play or not."
The Galaxy will be hoping for the latter, as a draw in last week's California Clasico match against the San Jose Earthquakes left Bruce Arena's side wanting for more.
Reds on the Road: NY Red Bulls vs. Toronto FC
Rematch time! Toronto FC heads to Harrison, N.J., to take on the New York Red Bulls once again and will be hoping to replicate their 2016 season-opening win with yet another victory at Red Bull Arena.
That won't be easy, though, especially since Jesse Marsch's side is coming off a massive 7-0 win over rivals New York City FC from last weekend. However, the Reds, boasting an improved back line, will feel more optimistic of their chances against the Red Bulls, and while Jozy Altidore remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, Sebastian Giovinco will be hungry to punish this week.
The Atomic Ant was dealt a personal blow when Italy manager Antonio Conte left him out of the Azzurri's roster for Euro 2016, then added a gut-punch by explaining that the omission was part of the "consequences" of playing in MLS. Giovinco will surely be desperate to prove Conte wrong - that lesson might come at the Red Bulls' expense.
Related: Giovinco upset with Italy snub but accepts Conte's decision
Expansion battle: NYCFC vs. Orlando City
It won't be long until Major League Soccer welcomes new expansion teams from Minnesota and Atlanta to the league, but for now, NYCFC and Orlando hold the "expansion team" label, having only joined in 2015. As such, these two sides go into battle on Sunday at Yankee Stadium with a point to prove.
For Orlando captain Kaka, striker Cyle Larin and the rest of the Lions' hunting pack, a draw against Philadelphia isn't good enough; Adrian Heath's side is hungry for a win, having drawn six of their 12 matches this season.
New York City FC sits pretty at second in the Eastern Conference, but a 7-0 loss to the Red Bulls will be a tough result to shake. Still, maintaining a point lead over their rivals across the Hudson River will be the priority for Patrick Vieira's men. It'll take a bit of doing, but NYCFC needs a result here and, as Frank Lampard put it, this team is concerned with only one thing: winning.