Success in the group stages is no shocker for the LA Galaxy. Since the 2011-2012 CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) the Galaxy have played in 16 group matches, they have won 13 of them thus far.

The 2015-2016 edition of the CCL has only meant success for LA. The Galaxy is off to a flying start with a 2-0 record and a positive nine goal differential. However, both of their matches have been at home and against weaker opponents. Their first game was against CCL first timers Central FC, which LA took care of 5-1. In their second match the Galaxy faced Comunicaciones F.C. and they destroyed the Guatemalans 5-0.

It is not LA’s fault that they were drawn into an easy group. However, too truly measure if this Galaxy team will be the first Major League Soccer (MLS) club to win the CCL, will be in how they do in their road games.

In the group stages, the Galaxy have mediocre combined road record of 4-1-3 and an even goal differential with ten goals for and against. The knockout stages for LA are simply atrocious, with a 0-2-2 combined record and a negative three goal differential. The Galaxy has yet to get by a group stage by winning every match. There is always that one game that reminds CONCACAF that LA away from home is beatable.

For example, in the 2013-2014 CCL, the Galaxy were defeated by A.D. Isidro Metapan 4-0 in El Salvador. That proved to be the only victory for Metapan. Plus for some odd reason, the Galaxy were only able to beat the Puerto Rican Islanders one of the two times they faced them on the road.

However, the hype for this team will not be realistic until they can defeat a Liga MX club in Mexico. In three tries in the CCL era, they have lost all three games and have a negative three goal differential.

The new signings for LA, Giovani Dos Santos and Steven Gerrard, were not just brought in to win another MLS Cup or Supporters’ Shield. The two talented attackers were brought to finally overcome the nightmare of the CCL for LA. That being said, is this Galaxy squad the deepest of any to compete in the CCL? Yes, but before we label them anything, let’s see if they can win their final two group matches.

They will first go to Trinidad and Tobago to face Central FC on Sept. 23rd, and then end the first round in Guatemala on Oct. 21st. Playing in Central America can be intimidating, but winning there can be a very difficult task to accomplish.

However, for LA to be considered a favorite to win the tournament, victories in Central America must happen more often. Having a combined record of 2-1-2 in the modern day era of the CCL, and a negative one goal differential will not cut it.

However, Galaxy’s defender Dan Gargan has the right mindset for LA’s journey in the 2015-2016 CCL.

“We’re only halfway there. We did what we wanted to do in these two games [at home],” Gargan told LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano, about starting the tournament 2-0 and having a positive nine goal differential. “We’ll approach the next two games with a similar mentality because we’re not done yet. We’re not through and we haven’t won the group. Until that happens, our mindset is the same.”