MLS Playoff Push: LA Galaxy Face Colorado Rapids as Marco Reus Leads Charge

by Max will
0 comments
MLS Playoff Push

MLS Playoff Push: LA Galaxy Face Colorado Rapids as Marco Reus Leads Charge

The MLS Playoff Push enters another crucial stage on Saturday as the LA Galaxy return home to face the Colorado Rapids at Dignity Health Sports Park. The September 26 matchup comes with both clubs battling for valuable points in a tightly contested Western Conference playoff race.

The Galaxy head into the contest with renewed momentum following a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Minnesota United. At the center of that recent surge has been veteran midfielder Marco Reus, whose performances have earned him recognition both within MLS and from EA SPORTS FC27.

LA Galaxy Return Home After Dramatic Win

The Galaxy enter the Colorado matchup after collecting seven points from their last four September games. Their recent run includes a 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution, a 1-1 draw against Seattle Sounders and the 3-2 comeback win against Minnesota United.

The victory in Minnesota was particularly important because it kept LA involved in the Western Conference playoff race with the regular season approaching its final weeks.

The Galaxy entered the weekend in eighth place with 33 points, while Colorado sat seventh with 36 points. A victory would allow LA to draw level with the Rapids on points.

Marco Reus Earns Team of the Week Recognition

Marco Reus has emerged as one of the Galaxy’s most influential players during their recent push.

The German midfielder has recorded three goals and two assists across LA’s last four matches, giving him five goal contributions during that stretch. For the season, Reus leads the Galaxy with seven goals and nine assists, totaling 16 goal contributions.

His impact was recognized after the Minnesota comeback, when his performance off the bench earned him a place in the EA SPORTS FC27 Team of the Week. He was the only MLS player selected for that week’s squad.

Reus has also been selected to the MLS Team of the Matchday three times during September, further highlighting his recent influence.

Colorado Rapids Bring Their Own Playoff Pressure

Colorado arrives in Los Angeles sitting just above the Galaxy in the Western Conference standings.

The Rapids are coming off a 3-3 draw with Seattle Sounders, a match in which new designated player Morgan Whittaker scored twice. Whittaker’s performance earned him MLS Team of the Matchday recognition after only two league appearances for Colorado.

Colorado’s recent five-match run includes two wins, two draws and one loss, while LA’s recent five matches have produced two wins, one draw and two losses.

That makes Saturday’s matchup particularly significant as both teams attempt to strengthen their position before the postseason race reaches its final stretch.

Galaxy Looking to Reverse Earlier Result

The two clubs have already met once during the 2026 regular season.

Colorado won that March 7 meeting 4-1 after the Galaxy were reduced to 10 players. However, LA has enjoyed the better recent overall head-to-head record, winning five of the last seven meetings across all competitions dating back to the beginning of the 2024 campaign.

The Galaxy also defeated Colorado twice during their 2024 playoff run, winning 5-0 and 4-1 before ultimately capturing the MLS Cup.

Key Players Could Decide the Match

While Reus remains a major attacking threat for LA, the Galaxy have received contributions from several other players during their recent run.

João Klauss scored his first goal since April during the comeback against Minnesota after returning from the short-term injury list. Lucas Calegari also registered an assist in his second appearance since returning to the club.

Goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski has also provided stability, recording a career-high 76.5% save rate and 91 saves in league play this season.

Colorado, meanwhile, can look toward Whittaker and Paxten Aaronson for attacking production.

International Call-Ups Add Another Layer

The match is also taking place during an international window, meaning both clubs have players unavailable because of national-team commitments.

LA Galaxy are without Hirving Lozano and Harbor Miller, while Colorado are missing Georgi Minoungou, Wayne Frederick and Sayed Abu Farhi.

Those absences could influence the lineups and tactical approach as both sides attempt to collect points in the playoff race.

When and Where to Watch LA Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids

The LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids are scheduled to meet on Saturday, September 26, at 7:30 p.m. PT at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The match is available through Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.

The Galaxy are also hosting their annual Mexican Heritage Celebration, with the first 15,000 fans scheduled to receive Hirving “Chucky” Lozano posters.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is LA Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids?

The match is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. PT.

2. Where will LA Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids be played?

The game will take place at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

3. Who is Marco Reus?

Marco Reus is a German midfielder playing for the LA Galaxy. He currently leads the club with 16 goal contributions in the 2026 MLS season.

4. Why is Marco Reus in the news?

Reus earned a place on the EA SPORTS FC27 Team of the Week following his performance in LA Galaxy’s comeback victory over Minnesota United.

5. How many goals has Marco Reus scored this season?

Reus has scored seven goals for the Galaxy in MLS during the 2026 season.

6. How many assists does Marco Reus have?

Reus has recorded nine assists, giving him 16 total goal contributions.

7. Where do LA Galaxy stand in the Western Conference?

The Galaxy entered the September 26 match in eighth place with 33 points, three points behind seventh-place Colorado.

8. What happened in the previous LA Galaxy vs Colorado Rapids meeting?

Colorado defeated LA Galaxy 4-1 on March 7, 2026, in the first meeting between the clubs this season.

9. How can fans watch the match?

The match is scheduled to stream on Apple TV through MLS Season Pass.

10. Why is this match important?

Both teams are competing for postseason positioning in the Western Conference, making the points available from this matchup important as the MLS regular season moves toward its final weeks.

You may also like