The Los Angeles Galaxy will start the CONCACAF Champions League on Thursday. They will host newcomers Central FC at the StubHub Center.

Los Angeles is entering the CCL with the most depth in their history of competing in this tournament. With the likes of Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane, Gyasi Zardes, Juninho and now Giovani Dos Santos, the Galaxy will be looking to get to the final for the first time in the modern version of the Champions League.

Anything less than a trip to the final for LA will be considered a disappointing run. However, before the Galaxy think of the final they must win Group D and take care of business against Central FC.

Central FC is only three years old but they have made many strides. The Trinidad & Tobago club got here by winning the 2015 CFU Club Championship. They know how to pull out a few upsets in the process. 

In the final of the CFU they faced W Connection F.C., the fellow Trinidad & Tobago club are five-time champions of the CFU. They were 90 minutes away from getting their sixth until Central pulled off a 2-1 upset.  

However, to defeat the Galaxy on the road will be too much for them.

Los Angeles will most likely be without Gerrard, Keane, Zardes, Omar Gonzalez and possibly even Juninho. However, head coach Bruce Arena stated that the newly acquired Mexican international will debut against Central.

“Over the next few days if everything goes well, we’ll get him on the field on Thursday,” Arena said in a press conference on Tuesday. “He’s been training with us. … Any player that misses two or three weeks needs a little time to get back and he’ll need a little time but I think in a very short period of time, he’ll be back to 100 percent.”

Arena also added that he is not sure for how long Dos Santos will play on Thursday.

However, that being said Arena will still have to choose a starting 11 for the match.

This writer’s Starting XI:

GK: Donovan Ricketts

Most of the time in a game like this a youngster like Brian Rowe is starting. However with Ricketts returning to the Galaxy, Arena will be looking to get the former Jamaican international more reps.

DEF: Oscar Soto, Tommy Meyer, Leonardo and Robbie Rogers

Resting Gonzalez and A.J. DeLaGarza is almost a guarantee, but for the other defenders it is open game. For youngsters like Soto and Meyer this game is a great opportunity to get experience. However, Arena will have leaders in the back with Leonardo and Rogers to guide them.

MID: Sebastian Lletget, Juninho, Rafael Garcia and Ignacio Maganto

As Arena said he is not sure for how long Dos Santos will play, but be sure to keep your eyes open because he will make his debut. After that let the kids in the midfield get some more rhythm. Lletget will be looking to continue in his goal scoring ways, the San Franciscan native has scored six goals in 10 matches. 

If Jose Villarreal gets cleared to play on Thursday there is a good chance he will get subbed in sometime in the second half.

FWD: Bradford Jamieson IV and Jack McBean

Just like in the case of the midfielders, the forwards have a chance to get some quality time with the first team. Playing against a foe that will most likely not be to the same standard as a typical MLS defense, will represent a great chance for them to get some goals.

Prediction:

Regardless that the Galaxy will be fielding a B squad they will still be able to dominate Central and cruise to 4-0 victory at home. It also helps that the people will be anticipating Dos Santos to enter the game at some point. The energy of the crowd will translate to the crafty midfielder getting a goal in his first match for the Galaxy.