CALIFORNIA LOVE

Happy Saturday from Los Angeles as the Red Bulls prepare for their match against the Los Angeles Galaxy tonight at 10:30 PM ET. The team arrived with no problems to California Thursday evening.

As opposed to the typical morning practice session, the Red Bulls held an evening session at The Home Depot Center last night, going through last-minute scenarios and set pieces. Part of the reason for the evening training session was to simulate tonight's match-time conditions. Whenever RBR comes here, it seems like we can’t help but fall asleep at 9 PM on the first night and wake up at 5 AM, so we think that the evening practice was a good idea.

Just a few notes from here:

- Claudio Reyna (calf) and Seth Stammler (back) did not travel. Stammler went to see medical specialists Wednesday and Thursday and had tests done on his back after he injured it during training while he was cutting to get the ball.
- After getting an allergic reaction on Monday at training and missing practice on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jozy Altidore trained fully on Thursday and is ready to go against the Galaxy tonight.
- With training in the evening, many of the players either hung around the hotel or ventured across the street to the Del Amo Fashion Center across the street – a massive two-story complex. Several of the guys were either hanging out around the hotel doing some last minute Mother’s Day shopping (and remember, don’t forget to call your mom tomorrow)!
- Funnily enough, the New England Revolution arrived to our hotel this afternoon. The Revolution is taking on Chivas USA Sunday at The Home Depot Center. RBR saw Steve Ralston, Jay Heaps and Taylor Twellman roaming around the hotel. We’ll keep you posted if any fights get started next to the Starbucks in the lobby.

Finally, some reading for you:

Brian Lewis’ advance in the New York Post

Dylan Butler’s MLSNet.com preview

Grahame Jones from the Los Angeles Times

FoxSports.com

What are your predictions for this game? Some of the keys to the match? Remember to catch all of the action starting at 10 PM ET, with MSG’s Running With The Bulls pre-game show.