Galaxy vs. Dallas Preview: LA Deals With Availability Issues In Texas

After a commanding 3-1 victory over Chivas USA in their last outing, the LA Galaxy look to take their unbeaten streak to five matches on Saturday night against FC Dallas at FC Dallas Stadium.

With Landon Donovan suspended from play due to yellow card accumulation, and David Beckham's status unknown, it's going to be up to Marcelo Sarvas and Juninho to create chances from the midfield. Juninho was credited with an assist Saturday against Chivas USA, he and Sarvas finished with Match Impact Ratings above 40.

Juninho has three assists on the year, Sarvas is yet to notch one. With David Beckham on the pitch, Juninho has played more a defensive roll, with Sarvas not yet truly defining his role on the pitch. They both have a goal between them, which with Robbie Keane not having Donovan to pair with they may have to step up from the midfield.

Robbie Keane has looked good pairing with Landon Donovan as of late. Over the course of the first few matches of the season, pairing with Edson Buddle and Chad Barrett, the forward pairings often looked redundant with players making the same runs and simply not complimenting each other.

The other option at Bruce Arena's disposal, other than starting Barrett up top with Keane, is to start eighteen year old Jose Villarreal. Villarreal won MLS goal of the week for his equalizer against the Vancouver Whitecaps, his first MLS goal of his career. On Tuesday against Tottenham, Villarreal started and played well into the second half.

While he hasn't gotten as much match time with Keane, his speed and talent could be the spark the Galaxy need early, while Barrett can provide some veteran holding on to the ball power later in the match.

With Omar Gonzalez getting 45 minutes against Tottenham, after a little more than twenty minutes against Chivas USA, whether he's available to start tonight is also a question. Since it's a night match he won't have to deal with oppressive heat, but the travel is still an issue.

For Dallas, the story as of late is the return of David Ferreira after more than a year out with a serious injury. After two years on loan at Dallas, he's only played eight matches since Dallas signed him to a multiyear contract. The Columbian who was a key member of the team that defeated the Galaxy in the 2010 MLS Western Confernce Final has yet to score this year, but has notched two assists.

Dallas has gone 2-1-2 this month, but that included a 0-1-1 record in matches against San Jose. They're 2-1 in their last three matches and just destroyed the Portland Timbers 5-0 in their last match. The Galaxy are 6-2-2 in their last ten matches, so it should be a good battle between two teams in solid form.