Galaxy continue road trip at expansion Minnesota

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The Los Angeles Galaxy will look to build upon their impressive start to a four-match away trip when they make their first-ever visit to Minnesota United on Sunday.

The Galaxy (3-5-2) began the trip with a dominant, if surprising, 3-1 victory at the New York Red Bulls last Saturday, in which French newcomer Romain Alessandrini had his second two-goal performance of the season.

A second victory against expansion Minnesota would constitute a three-match unbeaten run and the first consecutive wins this season for LA. This as the Galaxy continue to acclimate to life without stars Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Landon Donovan, as well as the departure of coach Bruce Arena for the U.S. national team.

"I think the results talk for themselves," Portuguese midfielder Joao Pedro, another newcomer, said on MLSsoccer.com. "I think we are doing a better job now, keeping the team balanced, so that way we can attack better too. The relationship is particularly good right now. We have to keep working on those kinds of things, relationship and chemistry, because it will help the team."

That said, the Galaxy still go as Alessandrini goes. He has six goals this season; his teammates have combined for seven.

Minnesota (3-6-2) doesn't have the history or star power of their opponents, but there are some similarities -- at least this season -- between expansion United and a Galaxy club that is one of the most decorated in MLS.

Beyond almost identical records, both have recovered from poor starts, although neither has yet to string together a long stretch of positive results.

"We've watched most of their games, and anytime they've got a bit of momentum in games, they've conceded poor goals, a bit like we've done," Minnesota coach Adrian Heath said of the Galaxy to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "But I think if you look at their front four, their front four have a little bit of everything: pace, size, athleticism and quality. That's why you pay a lot of money for forward going players."

The United are 3-3-1 in their last seven matches, and have alternated wins and losses over their last four, most recently losing 3-2 at Toronto FC last Saturday after twice equalizing from a goal behind.

Christian Ramirez leads Minnesota with six goals and Kevin Molino has five. Both Ramirez and playmaking midfielder Miguel Ibarra grew up as Galaxy fans in Southern California.