LA Galaxy vs. San Diego FC: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

The 30th MLS season kicks off for the defending champions LA Galaxy when they host the league’s 30th and newest club, San Diego FC, at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday evening.

This all-California clash marks San Diego FC's debut in Major League Soccer, adding a new chapter to the league's rapid growth. The Galaxy, fresh off their record sixth MLS Cup triumph, aim to start their title defense on a high note against their new in-state rivals.

Greg Vanney's Galaxy enters the 2025 campaign with high expectations but also significant challenges. The loss of key players and injuries to stars have reshaped the squad that lifted the trophy just a few months ago.

Meanwhile, San Diego FC, led by head coach Mikey Varas, will be eager to make an immediate impact in their inaugural MLS match.

The expansion side has assembled a well-balanced squad featuring some potential stars like Hirving Lozano, Luca de la Torre and Anders Dreyer alongside grizzled veterans such as Anibal Godoy and Paddy McNair.

LA Galaxy vs. San Diego FC betting picks and predictions

Tie or San Diego FC (+150)

In 2024, the LA Galaxy established an extraordinary home record at Dignity Health Sports Park, becoming only the second team in league history to go unbeaten at their home venue and win the MLS Cup in the same year.

Vanney’s side posted an impressive 13-0-3 regular-season record in Carson, scoring 42 goals while conceding just 23.

Their home dominance extended into the postseason, when they won all four of their home playoff matches, including a memorable 5-0 victory against the Colorado Rapids, culminating in their record-extending sixth MLS Cup title when defeating the New York Red Bulls 2-1 in front of their home fans.

Those incredible feats make them hot favorites to begin the new campaign with a victory at home, but San Diego FC are capable of causing a shock.

We know how things tend to go for expansion teams — either they begin MLS life with a bang or so slowly that you wonder if they know the serious action has started.

There have been signs of the former for San Diego FC, who beat New York Red Bulls 6-0 in their final warm-up match before the campaign gets underway.

After a couple of defeats in the California sunshine, this result was just what SDFC needed going into their inaugural MLS.

It is fair to say the offensive talent clicked with the quick tempo of Designated Player duo Lozano and Dreyer creating space for dynamic forward Marcus Ingvartsen in attack.

That trio could cause plenty of problems for the Galaxy on the break and it is not as if Vanney’s team will be at full strength.

An offseason of upheaval has seen more than a half dozen newcomers arrive in Carson with almost as many players from last season's MLS Cup-winning squad traded away. 

Salary cap constraints forced the Galaxy to ship off star striker Dejan Joveljic, who joined Gaston Brugman, Jalen Neal and Marky Delgado in leaving the club, while none of the new recruits were able to record a goal or an assist in preseason.

They looked disjointed and lacked a focus up front in their final preseason game, a 1-0 defeat to Chicago Fire, making them appear vulnerable to an upset.

Anders Dreyer anytime goalscorer (+300)

Dreyer bagged a brace in San Diego FC’s 6-0 rout of the Red Bulls and both finishes oozed class.

The Denmark international cut inside and buried a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Carlos Coronel in the opening 10 minutes and doubled his tally for the day with a similar effort from outside the box.

Dreyer was a regular goalscorer in Europe during his career in Denmark and Belgium and it would be no surprise to see him getting on the scoresheet again on Sunday.

The 26-year-old scored 15 goals in 28 Belgian top-flight appearances last season, adding eight assists.

Paddy McNair Over 0.5 Shots on Target (+333)

McNair may still be a bit of an unknown in MLS circles, but the Northern Ireland international could quickly become a fan favorite at Snapdragon Stadium.

He is deceptively quick for a tall defender and can dominate opponents in the air. That latter quality was on display when he met a short corner routine with a towering header to score in SDFC’s pre-season game with NYCFC earlier this month.

McNair will be one of his team’s primary set-piece targets and with Dreyer or Lozano providing the crosses, he should be able to register at least one effort on target on Sunday.

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LA Galaxy vs. San Diego FC odds

LA Galaxy	-200
Tie	+400
San Diego FC	+425

LA Galaxy vs. San Diego FC player props

Anytime Goalscorer

Chaves Gabriel Pec (LA Galaxy)	-110
Aaron Bibout (LA Galaxy)	+150
Christian Ramirez (LA Galaxy)	+150
Marco Reus (LA Galaxy)	+210
Miguel Berry (LA Galaxy)	+210
Hirving Lozano (San Diego FC)	+275

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.