LA Galaxy's New Big Four Need Big Game vs. Rapids | OneFootball

On Saturday, the Los Angeles have their second of two home games. The first one, a 2-1 victory over Pachuca in the 2025 Leauges Cup Knockout Round, went in favor of the defending MLS Cup champions. This weekend, the LA Galaxy are hoping for more of the same.

In another rematch of last year's opening round of the 2024 MLS Western Conference Playoffs, the LA Galaxy play host to the Colorado Rapids. Two months ago, the Rapids got the best of the Galaxy, 2-0.

Not just that in that playoff series, but throughout the entire postseason, the LA Galaxy's offense was historically great. They set the record for most goals (18) scored by one team in the playoffs.

That should come as no surprise, as the Los Angeles Galaxy fielded four players who scored at least ten goals last season. Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig are both in different places this season. Joveljic is now with Sporting Kansas City, and Puig is on the sidelines recovering from post-ACL tear surgery.

This season, especially in the Leagues Cup, the LA Galaxy seem to have a new big four that are finding ways to score.

The LA Galaxy's new 'Big Four' is ready vs. the Rapids

Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec are the two mainstays from last year's record-setters. Both are finally seeming to regain their 2024 form late in the year.

In the 20 MLS regular-season games that Paintsil has played, he has five goals and two assists. Four of those five goals have come in July and August. Last year, he had ten of each. Injuries have affected the Ghana native's ability to stay on the field earlier this season.

Pec has just as many goals (5) as Paintsil but twice as many assists (4) in 2025. He too, recorded ten of each last season. Twice, the 2024 MLS Newcomer of the Year scored two goals in the same game. On those two occasions, the LA Galaxy tied 3-3 against either LAFC or St. Louis City SC.

Inter Miami CF v LA Galaxy | Leonardo Fernandez/GettyImages

Marco Reus, in his first full season with the LA Galaxy, has been nothing short of amazing. He is another member of the six-time MLS Cup winners that has scored five times this season. In addition, Reus also has a team-high eight assists.

First-year player Matheus Nascimento has really come into his element as of late. The 21-year-old Brazilian soccer player has two goals and three assists to his credit in 2025.

All four of these stars for the LA Galaxy have found the back of the net during Leagues Cup play this year. That's why the team is now in the semifinals next weekend against a familiar foe in the Seattle Sounders.

Before the LA Galaxy do battle with them, they host the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. This should be an entertaining game given the Rapids' newcomers and the Galaxy's big four up front. Kick-off begins at 8:30 p.m. (MT) and 7:30 p.m. (PT) from Carson, California.