Union-Galaxy: MLS Game Of The Week Preview

The Union and Galaxy have had two completely different seasons so far in the 2010 MLS campaign, and while the Galaxy will look to continue their hot streak, the Union will look to start one.

Going into tonight's game at the Home Depot Center, Peter Nowak's Union have had defensive problems. Goalkeeper Chris Seitz has been a model of inconsistency, and the defense has had red card problems with Toni Stahl in Seattle and Danny Califf at Toronto. The Union have also given up at least two goals in each game this season.

The Union have also caught another bad break with top scorer Sebastien Le Toux out for tonight's game after suffering a knee sprain mid-week in the Open Cup match with the Red Bulls.

That means that Alejandro Moreno will need to attack the goal more instead of trying to set up Le Toux like he normally does. The options up front are all young, but Nowak has decided to go with a 4-5-1 tonight with Moreno being the sole forward. This means the midfielders will have to find a way to get Moreno the ball.

The Galaxy have been the hottest team in the galaxy of MLS this year. One reason for the start is Edson Buddle. Buddle is potentially playing his way on to Bob Bradley's roster for South Africa. With seven goals in five games, Buddle leads the league by two over Dwayne De Rosario of Toronto FC.

With the Union susceptible to giving up easy goals, Buddle will be on the prowl to score one of those easy goals. And by the way, some guy named Landon Donovan plays for this team too.

The part of the team being overshadowed by Buddle's strong start is the defense. Galaxy defenders have given up only one goal in five games this season. Donovan Ricketts was great in goal against Kansas City last week in a goalless draw and has the defenders to help him lock down opposing offenses.

The return of Gregg Berhalter last week from injury helped Ricketts out. Also helping Ricketts are two of the best young defenders in the league, Sean Franklin and Omar Gonzalez.

Match-ups To Watch:

It is pretty obvious what to watch for tonight, but if you missed above, here they are again:

Alejandro Moreno vs. Galaxy back four

Edson Buddle vs. Union back four

The defenses will decide this game, and the two top forwards for each team will have to produce for their team to win.

Prediction:

Galaxy 2-0 Union