The LA Galaxy look to add to their record collection of Major League Soccer championships when they face the New York Red Bulls in the MLS Cup 2024 game on Saturday, December 4 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The Galaxy have won the MLS Cup a record five times, but they have not been champions since 2014, which was their last appearance in the MLS Cup. The Red Bulls have one previous appearance in the MLS Cup. The team most recently played in the championship game in 2008. This year marks the Galaxy’s 10th appearance in the final.
LA finished the 2024 season in first place in the Western Conference with a record of 19-8-7 for 64 points. The team had 63 goals for and 43 goals against. The Galaxy’s 20-goal differential was tops in the conference. LA defeated the Colorado Rapids, Minnesota United FC, and the Seattle Sounders to make it to the MLS Cup. The club has outscored their opponents 16-4 in the postseason.
New York was the No. 7 team in the Eastern Conference with a mark of 11-9-14 for 47 points. The Red Bulls scored 55 goals and surrendered 50 in the regular season. The team defeated the Columbus Crew, New York City FC, and Orlando City SC to make the final. New York has six regulation goals in the playoffs and has surrendered two. They have three shutouts in the postseason.
Learn more about how to bet on MLS soccer here.
The LA Galaxy have been an offensive juggernaut in the 2024 MLS Playoffs, scoring 16 goals in four games, which puts them one goal behind the MLS record set by Toronto FC in 2016. The Galaxy missed the postseason in three of the past four seasons, so the team’s dominance in this year’s playoffs is a bit of a pleasant surprise. LA has the offensive momentum heading into the MLS Cup, and it will be tough for the New York Red Bulls to put a damper on the Galaxy’s scoring.
The Galaxy doesn’t hold back on offense. The team is aggressive and follow the lead of midfielder Riqui Puig, who has scored four of the club’s playoff goals. The problem with that is that Puig has been ruled out of the MLS Cup with a torn ACL.
While Puig will be out, the team still has Dejan Joveljic, who had 15 goals in the regular season and has added five markers in the playoffs, including the game-winner in the 85th minute against the Seattle Sounders, the goal which secured the team’s spot in the MLS Cup. Outside of Joveljic, the Galaxy must rely on its deep roster to get things done in the MLS Cup, which should not be a major problem.
The New York Red Bulls were the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference this year. That makes them the lowest seed to make an MLS Cup ever. They opened the playoffs with a matchup against the defending MLS champion Columbus Crew in two tightly contested games. The club then scored two goals in the first 25 minutes against the New York City FC, which was all they needed to win that game 2-0. They then downed Orlando City SC on the strength of a goal from Andres Reyes. The Red Bulls might have had some tight games on paper in the playoffs, but they weren’t ever in true peril of losing in the postseason.
Former 1. FSV Mainz 05, FC Dynamo Moscow, and Hertha BSC manager Sandro Schwarz was named coach of the club in December 2023. Schwarz has the team playing well heading into the MLS Cup, but the team’s lack of scoring could be a problem against a high-paced and aggressive squad like the LA Galaxy.
Lewis Morgan leads the team in regular season scoring in 2024 with 13 goals. Dante Vanzeir was tops on the squad in assists with 10.
With their performance in the playoffs, the Red Bulls will not be under pressure to win the MLS Cup, look for them to be loose and relaxed heading into the MLS Cup.
Many will overlook the Red Bulls in this matchup. Still, the team has a chance to score a big upset against the Galaxy, especially since Puig is out of this game, which will hurt the Galaxy both emotionally and offensively.
The LA Galaxy is the deeper and more talented club in this matchup, but the New York Red Bulls are essentially on a freeroll as they were not expected to go nearly this deep in the MLS playoffs.With Puig out of the mix, the Red Bulls will have more confidence that they will get things done in the MLS Cup. I don’t think that will be the outcome, but look for the Red Bulls to battle the Galaxy in a tightly contested MLS Cup Final.
The betting pick is for the LA Galaxy to beat the New York Red Bulls to win their sixth MLS Cup.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
Make sure to check out our sportsbook reviews so you can ensure which ones are safe. We will ensure we provide trustworthy information to make your betting choices.
Remember to check the best available bonuses here.
About the Author
Trent's your man when it comes to all things sports. He covers a wide range of sports for Sports Betting Sites, and has been published in some pretty reputable outlets, such as USA Today Sports, Vice, Bloody Elbow, Fight! Magazine, UFC 360, and Narratively. Trent's got the inside track on all the happenings in the world of sports.
Read Trent's ProfileAsk Trent about this guide:
