By Alex Baker
(Los Angeles, CA) – The LA Galaxy announced Thursday that the club will face EPL side Manchester City in a summer friendly to take place on July 24 at the Home Depot Center. This follows last week’s announcement that the Galaxy would again be facing Real Madrid this summer at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Both matches are part of the 2011 Herbalife World Football Challenge, which is taking place at different stadiums across the country between July 13 and August 6. The competition features MLS sides taking on top-level international opposition such as FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Club America, Man City, Real Madrid and Chivas de Guadalajara.
Manchester City currently sit forth in the EPL table and look to have all but secured a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League. This Saturday they face Stoke City in an FA Cup final appearance that represents a chance for them to win their first major trophy since the 1970s.
After languishing for years as a backwater team in the EPL, City have come into their own in recent seasons thanks to an influx of cash from their new owner, Abu Dhabi billionaire, Sheik Mansour. Mansour bought the club in 2008 and since then City have spent the last couple seasons assembling a squad that contains some of the most formidable players in Europe. Fans who attend the July 24 match may have a chance to see the likes of David Silva, Edin Dzeko, Carlos Tevez, Yaya Toure and Mario Balotelli in action.
Although the Galaxy have never faced City before, this is the third summer in a row they have gone up against heavyweight foreign opposition at the HDC. Last year they defeated Argentine side Boca Juniors 1-0 and the summer before that they held Italian giants AC Milan to a 2-2 draw.
Despite drawing their last two matches, the Galaxy currently sit atop the Western Conference table. Following last Saturday’s entertaining 1-1 draw at home against NY Red Bulls, Galaxy gave up a lead on Wednesday night at PPL Park in Philadelphia to similarly draw with the Philadelphia Union. But with Real Salt Lake sitting only two points behind them with several games in hand, the Galaxy will be looking for a return to winning ways when they welcome Sporting Kansas City at home this Saturday.
Kansas City have been on a run of dismal form this season. Having lost their last three games they are currently languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
