Whitecaps, Galaxy set to square off in Wild West MLS matchup

Last week, the Vancouver Whitecaps climbed to the top of Major League Soccer's Western Conference.

This week, they're fighting to stay there.

The Whitecaps (4-1-1) will play host to the L.A. Galaxy (3-1-3) on Saturday in a matchup sure to impact the standings. Going in, they are separated by a single point.

Vancouver is on a high after taking a decisive 4-0 victory over Toronto FC last week, and head coach Vanni Sartini said they're lucky to be facing a tough opponent this weekend.

“You don't have to motivate the players or something. It's No. 1 against No. 2,” he said. “So everyone, hopefully, is going to be on top of their game.”

Galaxy is coming off their first loss of the season, having dropped a 2-1 decision to Los Angeles FC last week, but the Caps won't be taking the visitors lightly.

“It's how MLS is. It's a very tight league. So we cannot relax,” Sartini said.

The Galaxy is an exciting club, he added, with weapons including striker Dejan Joveljic, who is tied for second in the league with five goals on the season.

Sartini said the Whitecaps will need to try to win the ball high in order to stop Joveljic and the Galaxy's other stars from getting chances in dangerous areas.

Vancouver's defence has been a strength so far this season, conceding just six goals across its first six games and leading the league in goal differential (+8).

Continuing that defensive structure on Saturday will be key, said Whitecaps striker Brian White.

“It's just sticking to the principles,” he said. “They've worked well for us so far, so it's not getting away from that regardless of what happens.”

Vancouver has been an offensive force, too, so far this season.

The club is tied with the Galaxy and the Portland Timbers for most goals in the West (14) and leads the league in goals per game (2.3).

Instead of relying on a single star to find the back of the net, the Caps have a league-leading nine players who've scored.

Off-season acquisition Fafa Picault leads the Whitecaps with three goals and three assists in his first five games.

Meanwhile, three Japanese players could start an MLS match for the first time on Saturday, including Vancouver's Takaoka and L.A.'S Miki Yamane and Maya Yoshida.

You don't have to motivate the players … It's No. 1 against No. 2 … So everyone …is going to be on top of their game.