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Galaxy-Chivas USA Preview

Jul 10, 2009 - 10:21 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Los Angeles (4-3-9) at Chivas USA (8-4-3), 11:00 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Galaxy have one more game left before welcoming David Beckham back, but Landon Donovan is already looking forward to smoothing over a potentially difficult situation with the superstar.

Donovan will try to avoid letting his comments about Beckham be a distraction Saturday night when the Galaxy faces CD Chivas USA in the SuperClasico.

Donovan made news last week for questioning Beckham's commitment, desire and decision to join the Galaxy (4-3-9) in 2007, and being upset for having the captaincy taken from him. The comments are part of "The Beckham Experiment," a book by Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl to be released Tuesday - four days before Beckham is scheduled to return for Los Angeles' visit to New York.

Donovan, though, is preparing to discuss his comments with Beckham, who spent the offseason on loan at Milan and will participate in his first practice with the Galaxy on Monday.

"I don't apologize for what I said," Donovan told the team's official Web site. "I just apologize for the way I did. I should have told him to his face. I've long told David since he's been gone and I've been gone that I want to sit down and talk with him about everything. It's fresh in everyone's minds now, and it appears like everything has gone on in a short period of time, but this has been a long time coming.

"The timing of it makes it a little awkward and seemingly uncomfortable, but we'll be fine. We'll get through it."

First, Donovan and the Galaxy attempt to win a third consecutive game for the first time since a five-game winning streak with Beckham from Sept. 23-Oct. 13, 2007.

Los Angeles beat New England 1-0 last Saturday as Alecko Eskandarian's goal in the eighth minute with his new club held up. Eskandarian was acquired by the Galaxy from Chivas USA on July 1.

That victory came six days after a surprising 1-0 win over Western Conference-leading Houston.

Donovan, the team leader with six goals and four assists, will likely be in the lineup after missing the last five games. An illness sidelined the forward against the Revolution and his participation at the Confederations Cup for the U.S. ruled him out of the previous four matches.

He has seven goals and six assists in 13 games against Chivas USA (8-4-3), but failed to find the back of the net in a scoreless tie on April 11.

Chivas is looking to return to league play in strong fashion after getting eliminated from SuperLiga and the U.S. Open Cup. The club was beaten 3-1 at Charleston of the USL in the Open Cup on June 30, three days after a 1-all tie to Mexico's San Luis knocked it out of SuperLiga.

Those are part of a six-game winless stretch (0-5-1) in all competitions that has seen Chivas outscored 10-4. The club dropped its last two MLS games, falling to 1-3-2 over the last six after a 7-1-1 start.

"From our end the story of our season is that we don't score enough goals" Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch said. "So, as much as we command parts of the game we don't score enough and that hurts us."