Los Angeles Galaxy v San Jose Earthquakes Betting Tips [14 May 2023]

Matchday 12 in the 2023 MLS season wraps up with the 13th-place Los Angeles Galaxy hosting the fourth-place San Jose Earthquakes for this Western Conference battle. It’s been a disastrous first third of the season for the Galaxy who many expected to easily be in the hunt for a playoff spot. They instead find themselves second-from-bottom in the Western Conference with just one win and six total points from their opening 10  matches. They’ll come into this match desperate for the three points as they look to turn their season around and get back in contention for a top seven spot, which they currently trail by eight points. The Galaxy are coming off a much needed 3-1 home win over the Sounders in the US Open Cup on Wednesday, snapping a two game losing streak. However, they continue to struggle in the league where they have lost five of their six seven matches. 

The San Jose Quakes have enjoyed a productive start to the season after a difficult campaign in 2022 which saw them finish rock-bottom of the Western Conference. Things are looking up for the Quakes this year though as they seek their first playoff appearance since the 2020 season. They currently sit in fourth-place with five wins and three draws from their opening 11 matches, putting them only two points off leaders Seattle for the top spot in a congested West. San Jose are coming off a morale-boosting 2-1 home win over LAFC, dealing the defending MLS Cup champions their first league loss of the season. The visitors have been dominant on their home pitch this season but have struggled on their travels. They’re unbeaten at home, with five wins from six matches, but have yet to pick up their first away win of the season.

With the Galaxy getting some momentum going and having key striker Chicharito back to 100%, we like their chances to make it back-to-back wins on their home field here. San Jose have certainly impressed in the early stages of the 2023 season but their away form is worrying. Both their goals production and defensive solidity take noticeable drops when they play away from Levi’s Stadium and we are backing that trend to continue here. Our LA Galaxy vs San Jose Earthquakes prediction is for the Galaxy to win the match.