Tuesday’s column: MLS rivalry to live up to its billing Saturday?

i-6f526b1d2ea2f7918f0194ef705d0526-superpostersmall.jpgChivas USA takes a dig at its rival in this SuperClasico promotional poster (although given the host’s tepid fan base it strains credulity more than a little). But will the game live up to the hype?

*With two steadily improving teams in Chivas USA and the Galaxy, this Saturday’s derby promises much.

Here’s my take on whether the game will deliver.

*Rumor of the Day: The Italian press is reporting that the Galaxy’s Landon Donovan could be a transfer target for Roma. Whether this report has any legitimacy or merely sounds like a plausible rumor that will sell newspapers because the club has a new American owner remains to be seen, however.

Updated

Someone at MLS clearly has too much time on their hands. Here’s a break-down of the SuperClasico by the numbers for those of you who can’t get enough of this sort of thing:

.739 – LA Galaxy’s all-time winning percentage against its roommate, Chivas USA, who joined MLS and moved into The Home Depot Center in 2005. Including two MLS Cup Playoff games and one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match, LA holds a 14-3-6 record against the Rojiblancos.

3 – Chivas USA’s all-time victories against the Galaxy (one in 2006, two in 2007).

7 – Combined goals scored by the two clubs in their most recent games.

8 – Players that have appeared at least one SuperClsico for each side (Current Chivas USA players Tristan Bowen, Ante Jazic, and Paulo Nagamura; plus Alecko Eskandarian, Alan Gordon, Mike Muoz, Marcelo Saragosa, and Michael Umaa). Another nine players wore the Galaxy’s shirt prior to 2005 and later played for Chivas USA.

10 – Shutouts by the Galaxy against Chivas USA in 22 encounters (MLS regular season and playoffs).

17 – Games played and combined goals (9) and assists (8) for Landon Donovan in the SuperClsico rivalry.

108 – Feet between the doors of Chivas USA and LA Galaxy front offices at The Home Depot Center.

450 – Minutes Chivas USA went without scoring vs. LA in league play, from Aug. 14, 2009 to Alan Gordon’s goal in the second meeting last year.

1,342 – Days since Chivas USA last defeated the Galaxy (3-0 on Sept. 13, 2007). By Saturday, it will have been 1,346 days.

27,998 – Average attendance for 20 regular season SuperClsicos.

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