Landon Donovan and David Beckham are showing the type of chemistry the Los Angeles Galaxy have been waiting for.
The Galaxy hope the duo can continue its outstanding play and help them end a four-game homestand on a positive note Saturday when they face crosstown rival CD Chivas USA in the SuperClasico.
Donovan followed that up by scoring twice in a 3-2 loss to Toronto on April 13.
Beckham linked up with Donovan again last Saturday, setting up both of the forward's second-half goals to help the Galaxy rally for a 2-all tie with Houston.
"I've always said that when you play with players that are intelligent, they know where to run and where the ball is coming," Beckham said. "That was the case (last Saturday) and the case in some of the other games. It's just about the understanding of the game."
Beckham has a team-leading three assists after getting only two last season as ankle and knee injuries limited him to five games.
The Galaxy hope Beckham and Donovan can build on their impressive performances to help re-establish the team's success over Chivas USA (1-2-1) in the first matchup between the clubs this season.
Los Angeles has dropped the last two meetings with Chivas USA by 3-0 scores after losing only once in the previous 10 matchups (7-1-2). Donovan has three goals and five assists in nine games of the all-time series.
Chivas USA is hoping the return of two key midfielders can help it shake off a sluggish start to the season, and avoid its first three-game losing streak since dropping four in a row from Sept. 3-24, 2005.
The team generated only two shots on goal in a 2-0 loss to Dallas on Sunday. Chivas USAColumbus on April 12. struggled without Francisco Mendoza and Sacha Kljestan, who were serving one-game suspensions for being issued red cards in a 4-3 loss at
Teammate Ante Razov, who had 11 goals and eight assists last season, is hoping to return to the starting lineup after a calf injury caused him to miss two games before being used as a second-half substitute Sunday.
"We haven't had our full group at all this season, preseason included," Razov said. "There have been guys in and out with injuries and we've had so many guys banged up that it's tough. Clearly, it shows on the field. We don't really have the same rhythm we had a year ago. It might take a little bit but we've got to work on it pretty hard."
Razov is still looking for his first goal of the season as he remains stuck on 109 for his career, ranking second behind D.C.'s Jaime Moreno (113) on the MLS all-time goals list.
Razov has 10 goals and eight assists in 29 games against Los Angeles, the team that drafted him out of UCLA in 1996.
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