Galaxy-Chivas USA Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN

(AP) -- The Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA have had plenty going on this week as they get ready for the latest edition of the SuperClasico.

The Galaxy have won five straight during a 12-game unbeaten streak against their Home Depot Center co-tenants, but there are question marks as to whether certain players will be available Saturday night for these rivals mired in four-game winless stretches.

Los Angeles (3-5-2) drew 1-1 at Montreal last Saturday before going to the White House to be honored Tuesday by President Barack Obama for winning last year's MLS Cup.

The travel hasn't stopped for David Beckham, who went to Greece as part of a British delegation that received the Olympic torch before taking it to London.

The Galaxy do not know if he will be back for this game.

"I would think it depends on the situation with travel: If his flights are delayed, if he has to travel through thunderstorms," coach Bruce Arena told the Galaxy's official website. "We'll see when he gets here whether he feels ready to play."

Chivas USA (3-6-1), meanwhile, pulled off a pair of blockbuster trades Thursday. The club acquired 19-year-old forward Juan Agudelo and allocation money from New York for defender Heath Pearce and then replaced Pearce by getting defender Danny Califf from Philadelphia for midfielder Michael Lahoud and allocation money.

Coach Robin Fraser believes both players will be available Saturday.

"The timing of the moves just worked out," Fraser told Chivas' official website. "That was certainly a consideration for us, to make sure that we don't cut off our nose to spite our face. We wanted to make sure that we were able to cover ourselves and make improvements all at once."

Arena reacted with disdain when hearing about the trades.

"They can trade all of them or keep all of them, it doesn't impact us at all," Arena said. "Our focus is on the 11 we're getting on the field."

Los Angeles is 0-2-2 in its last four and Chivas ended a three-game slide with Sunday's 1-1 draw at San Jose.

The Galaxy have won eight times during this unbeaten run over Chivas with two 1-0 victories in 2011. Chad Barrett scored the winner both times, but he has seen his playing time diminish this year.

This game will be the final one for Los Angeles forward Robbie Keane before he joins Ireland for the European championships. Landon Donovan also will likely leave after this match to join the United States team.

The Galaxy have yielded 15 goals from 10 games to tie FC Dallas for the second-worst ratio in MLS. Chivas has scored six times in 10 matches for the league's worst ratio.

Chivas, 0-5-0 at home and 3-1-1 on the road, is the home team Saturday.

Updated May 18, 2012