Olivier Giroud.
Credit: Reuters File Photo
Marco Reus and Olivier Giroud are both set to make their debuts in the El Trafico rivalry Saturday night when the Los Angeles Galaxy host Los Angeles FC with the Western Conference regular season title potentially on the line.
The Galaxy (15-6-7, 52 points) and LAFC (14-6-6, 48 points) sit first and second in the West, respectively, following the September international break, with LAFC holding two matches in hand. Whether the Galaxy's Reus or LAFC's Giroud has the greater impact after joining their respective side this summer could help decide the race.
But their roles are considerably different.
The 37-year-old Giroud is France's all-time leading international goal-scorer. The former Arsenal, Chelsea and AC Milan man provides LAFC the prototypical center forward they've lacked for the better part of two seasons.
He has yet to score in MLS play -- his first start came in a 0-0 draw at Houston last Saturday in which LAFC was without its top three scorers -- but he did score in a 3-1 loss to Columbus in the Leagues Cup final on Aug. 25.
While LAFC have already managed plenty of scoring through winger Denis Bouanga (16 goals) and Mateusz Bogusz (13 points), neither are natural center forwards.
"He just gives them this focal point," Galaxy manager Greg Vanney said of Giroud. "Guys like Giroud need one half of a look and it's in the back of the net, and now they're on top of a game."
The German Reus, who spent most of his club career at Dortmund, plays a deeper role in central midfield, where the Galaxy already boast one of the league's best playmakers in Riqui Puig.
But the two appeared to complement each other in their one time starting together, a 2-0 league win over Atlanta United on Aug. 24 in which Reus assisted on one goal and scored another.
"He doesn't make very many mistakes in tight spaces, under pressure, in the final third, and I think he complements them very, very well," LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said of Reus.
LAFC has won three in a row and five of the last six between the sides in league play, but they have all been reasonably close. Only one of those games was decided by more than one goal.