The LA Galaxy is walking into a tricky situation on Saturday when they host red hot Didier Drogba and the Montreal Impact.

“World-class talent,” Galaxy midfielder Steven Gerrard told Scott French of Major League Soccer (MLS) about Drogba. “I know a lot of people from the outside talk about age in this game, but, for me, it's only a number, and he looked very good [in last weekend's 4-3 win over Chicago]. Start was really good, and I'm sure he's going to be aiming to build on that.”

In his last match Drogba dropped a hat-trick against the Chicago Fire in his first MLS start. LA and especially Gerrard will be aware that the former Ivory Coast international forward can score on an opponent in multiple styles. The Galaxy defense will need to keep tabs on him for the entire match. 

However, even when Drogba does not have the ball his movement can still create chances for others. One thing LA cannot allow is for the 6'2" forward get service. A player like Justin Mapp given time will find the former English Premier League striker.

Since Gerrard has the most experience playing against the lethal striker on the Galaxy’s roster, he has become another coach. The former England captain has been telling the defenders of what to pay attention too.

“I think you'd have to be careful and play Drogba very careful because he's very clever,” Gerrard told French. “His movement's good, he's very strong. It's important not to get into a fight with him because usually there's only one winner. So you have to play him cute and, you know, be aggressive with him at the right times and try not to give set pieces away around the box because he's clinical from there as well.”

For the Impact to win this game there is no secret they will need Drogba. For Montreal to end their two game road losing streak they will need the lethal striker to have a duplicate performance of last weekend.

Predicting starting XI for Montreal:

Evan Busch

Wandrille Lefevre - Ambroise Oyongo - Nigel Reo-Coker - Maxim Tissot

Andrés Romero - Calum Mallace - Ignacio Piatti - Justin Mapp - Marco Donadel

Drogba  

However, the Galaxy offense carries a punch as well. The Impact’s defense will need to do their best to contain Robbie Keane, Giovani Dos Santos, Gyasi Zardes, Gerrard, Sebastian Lleget and Juninho. Completing that task at the StubHub Center is nearly impossible.

In the month of August LA went 4-0 at home and finished with a +15 goal differential. In three of those games they scored five goals on their opponents. Their defense was a punishing force that only gave up three goals.

For the Galaxy to win this match they will need to make sure that the midfield stifles the Impact’s offense. No matter how dangerous Drogba is, he will need the midfield to supply him opportunities. That will be the best way to neutralize the Ivory Coast striker on Saturday.

Predicting starting XI for LA:

Donovan Ricketts

Dan Gargan - A.J. DeLaGraza - Omar Gonzalez - Robbie Rogers

Lleget - Gerrard - Zardes - Juninho

Keane - Dos Santos

Prediction: LA 4-1 Montreal

The Galaxy’s offense will be too much for the Impact to handle. In the last five games they have given up 10 goals and have a record of 1-1-3.

Montreal has struggled to contain ordinary offenses; now they will be facing a different caliber of attack. What makes it worse for them is that LA is rested and ready to erase their recent 1-0 road defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes.

Drogba will get his goal but it will be a frustrating Saturday night for the veteran striker.