The Los Angeles Galaxy were thriving before the arrival of Marco Reus, but adding the German star has increased the club’s firepower.
Reus was involved in both goals in his Galaxy debut and now looks to supply similar aid in his second match when Los Angeles visits St. Louis City on Sunday afternoon.
Reus, 35, played 28 minutes as a second-half sub in last weekend’s 2-0 home win over Atlanta United and had a huge impact with a goal and an assist.
He displayed the type of star effort expected from somebody who was a three-time Bundesliga Player of the Year for Borussia Dortmund.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the team that we can continue this way,” Reus said after his debut. “We want to be champions after the season, so we take it game by game.”
Los Angeles (15-5-7, 52 points) leads the Western Conference and is looking for its fourth straight win in MLS play.
Standout midfielder Riqui Puig scored for the Galaxy in the 76th minute against Atlanta, eight minutes before Reus got on the board.
“I hope that’s a glimpse of what’s to come,” Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said of the star combo. “I think they can be very compatible because you see what Riqui does, Marco isn’t going to do.”
The addition of Reus adds to a high-octane attack that includes Dejan Joveljic (12 goals), Gabriel Pec (10), Puig (nine) and Joseph Paintsil (eight). Joveljic (hamstring) last played in an MLS match in early July.
St. Louis City (4-10-12, 24 points) will need to have an improved defensive effort to slow the Galaxy.
St. Louis, which is in 13th place in the West, led 4-2 in the second half last weekend before the host Portland Timbers rallied for a 4-4 draw.
The disappointing setback leaves St. Louis 0-3-2 in MLS play since losing to the San Jose Earthquakes on July 3.
St. Louis hopes to have leading scorer Joao Klauss (five goals) back on the pitch Sunday. He has missed two-plus months with a right knee sprain. Rasmus Alm also could return Sunday. The midfielder also has been sidelined with a right knee sprain.
In fact, St. Louis City’s best help Sunday could come from the conditions. The temperature is expected to be 90 degrees with just over 50 percent humidity.
“It’s been brutal,” St. Louis interim coach John Hackworth said of the temperatures this week. “… We’ve had tough sessions, but the players have battled through it. I think it’s good preparation. I hope it’s very hot and humid (Sunday) so the L.A. boys will melt in the Missouri sun.”
The teams have played three times, all finishing in draws, since St. Louis City joined Major League Soccer as an expansion team in 2023..
–Field Level Media
