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LA Galaxy Columbus Crew match preview

Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

After the Galaxy's 29-game unbeaten streak at home came to a crashing halt last week, how will they respond on the road vs. the Columbus Crew this Saturday? (4:30 pm, Time Warner Cable SportsNet and Deportes)

On the one hand, this LA team is going to be out for blood after losing at the StubHub Center for the first time since the 2014 home opener, not to mention the 4-1 drubbing they received in Columbus last year, a result that occurred just when the #ThanksLD celebrations began picking up steam.

And yet, this week's version of Pick-A-Lineup could spell trouble for the Galaxy's chances. Robbie Keane is overseas with Ireland and will miss the match. Gyasi Zardes should be back with the team after helping the US defeat Germany and the Netherlands, but is not likely to start. 

(It's also not very encouraging that LA hasn't won away from home for some time, a streak that has quietly grown to 14 straight games without a win)

However, Jose Villarreal should be good to go after participating in full training all week. (Since last Friday, to be specific) Robbie Rogers played 60 minutes for Los Dos, but does that translate into a start? We'll see.

So far in 2015, the key to the Galaxy attack has been the availability of Jose Villarreal to generate offense, and SuperDraft pick Ignacio Maganto has also been a surprise revelation with his playmaking abilities. (Who would have predicted a rookie would be an important cog of this year's attack?)

If the Galaxy can manage to get both Villarreal and Maganto in dangerous spots on the field, anything could happen.