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MLS is back as LA Galaxy face Seattle and Inter Miami repeat against D.C. United

There was only one MLS game over the three-week-long international break as Austin FC held Sporting KC to a 1-1 draw last Saturday, but this weekend the action is back.

There will be 26 teams in action, starting with two games on Friday night and more on Saturday and Sunday.

LA Galaxy take aim at the Seattle Sounders

LA Galaxy host the Seattle Sounders on Saturday in another attempt to knock off the top dog. Seattle have not lost yet this season and they are in first place in the Western Conference with 18 points. The Galaxy are in third place with five wins from seven games, but they have two games in hand over second-place Sporting KC.

Chicharito did not play for Mexico during the international break and should be well-rested to take on the Sounders. He was named in the Gold Cup provisional roster on Monday and could make his first Mexico appearance since September 2019 in next month's competition. The Galaxy forward leads the MLS with seven goals from seven games although Seattle's Raul Ruidiaz is right behind him with six.

Los Angeles added French winger Kevin Cabral since they last played Seattle and the 21-year-old has played three times for the Galaxy with two starts. They also brought in French defender Sega Coulibaly, who has yet to make his MLS debut. They will be without defender Derrick Williams, who is suspended by the league for five games after a horrid tackle made against Portland Timbers winger Andy Polo.

Seattle beat the Galaxy 3-0 on May 2 at Lumen Field as Ruidiaz scored twice. He was recently away from the team with Peru but did not make the final roster for the Copa America and should be available, although defender Xavier Arreaga will miss this match as he plays for Ecuador.

Inter Miami heading to face D.C. United

This is a rematch of the last game both teams played before the break as D.C. United routed Inter Miami CF 3-0. That win came in front of the first full capacity crowd in Inter Miami history. As a result, D.C. United leapt over Miami in the table with nine points, while Miami have eight from eight games.

Ola Kamara scored twice while Paul Arriola had a goal and an assist to give Untied their first away win of the season. It was the first time they scored more than one goal in a match since the season opener as they put two past Miami in a six-minute stretch in the first half. Miami will have to figure out a way to stop those two, or another embarrassing loss will come their way.

Miami's defence have struggled all season and they have a -5 goal difference but remain determined to play out of the back. And it isn't just the defence struggling as Phil Neville's squad have been shut out in their last two games, with Gonzalo Higuain unable to find his footing.

The silver lining for Miami is they played the May 29 game without three key players and tried a 3-5-2 formation for the first time. Leandro Gonzalez Pirez missed the game due to suspension and will be back for Saturday's encounter. Rodolfo Pizarro (hip flexor) and Robbie Robinson (hamstring) could also return from missing the May 29 clash, although Pizarro is rumoured to be on the transfer market.

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