Starting XI: In a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Starting XI is a biweekly series on SportingKC.com that highlights 11 of the biggest storylines and news updates from Sporting Kansas City, MLS and soccer around the globe. Click here to visit the Starting XI archive.

Sporting KC (3-1-1, 10 points) and the LA Galaxy (2-1-1, 7 points) write the 61st regular-season installment of their Western Conference rivalry on a nationally televised stage Sunday night at StubHub Center in Carson, California. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. CT on FS1, while local radio broadcasts will air on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM (Spanish).

Both sides enter the primetime fixture high on confidence. Sporting KC has collected 10 points from their last four games to take first place in the West, while the Galaxy — boosted by the arrival of international soccer icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic — overcame a three-goal deficit last Saturday to defeat noisy neighbors LAFC 4-3 in one of the greatest games in MLS history.

2. No Other Party

With Sporting KC traveling west to face five-time MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy, another watch party awaits at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District. All supporters are welcome to attend the official #LAvSKC watch party on Sunday as first-place Sporting Kansas City looks to extend a four-game unbeaten run at 8 p.m. CT. No Other Pub's matchday specials will begin at 7:30 p.m., featuring $5 Corona cans as well as an all-you-can-eat buffet with endless domestic draft beers. Watch party programming will also include giveaways for Sporting KC tickets and No Other Pub gift cards.

3. Primetime Prowess

Sunday night's marquee showdown between Sporting KC and the LA Galaxy is one of three nationally televised matches to highlight the Week 6 slate in Major League Soccer. Before the sides square off at StubHub Center, two other MLS battles will be available to audiences across the country. Atlanta United FC will host LAFC at 4 p.m. CT Saturday on ESPN, while Orlando City SC welcomes the Portland Timbers at 3 p.m. CT Sunday on the same channel.

4. Center Backs Speak

A pair of Sporting Kansas City center backs joined Sports Radio 810 WHB this week to discuss Sunday's showdown against the Galaxy. With the national spotlight beaming brightly on Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the lead-up to Sunday, Sporting KC center backs Matt Besler and Ike Opara will be tasked with silencing the veteran Swede as well as Ola Kamara, who has three goals in two career appearances against Manager Peter Vermes' men.

5. Rising Stars

The Swope Park Rangers moved into first place in the USL's Western Conference on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. They did so with five Sporting KC Academy products on the field logging professional minutes as teenagers. The youngest of the group, 15-year-old midfielder Gianluca Busio, contributed the game-winning assist to Tyler Blackwood just seven minutes into his pro debut.

6. Belmar on the Brink?

Swope Park Rangers striker Kharlton Belmar has been nominated for the USL Player of the Month award after tallying four goals and two assists in the opening month of the 2018 USL season. He recorded braces in each of SPR's first two victorie, a 4-3 defeat of Reno 1868 FC and a 4-2 scalp of Seattle Sounders FC 2. Fans can click here to cast their USL Player of the Month vote for Belmar.

7. Pump the Breaks

Sporting KC's First Fridays Block Party, originally scheduled for April 6, has been canceled due to inclement weather forecasted in Kansas City. Sporting KC will host another First Fridays Block Party this summer, and event details will be announced at a later date.

8. Reds Roar

Toronto FC took another major step in their 2018 Concacaf Champions League run on Tuesday, defeating Mexican giant Club America 3-1 in the first leg of the tournament semifinals at BMO Field. Head coach Greg Vanney's side will now prepare for the decisive return leg at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, taking place next Tuesday at 9 p.m. CT. In the other semifinal, the New York Red Bulls took a 1-0 road loss to Chivas de Guadalajara and will have to make up the deficit at Red Bull Arena in leg two, set for next Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT.

9. Reds Roar (Part 2)

While the Reds of Toronto flexed their muscles at BMO Field, the Reds of Liverpool delivered a scintillating performance of their own across the Atlantic. Liverpool thrashed Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday, while Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid — see that bicycle kick from Cristiano Ronaldo? — also took command of their respective quarterfinal series with routine victories. 

10. Gamers Gambit

Alex Betancourt has officially begun his eMLS Cup quest. The 19-year-old Kansas City native is participating in the coveted eMLS Cup that began today and concludes Sunday at the PAX East gaming festival inside the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. The tournament consists of gamers from 19 MLS clubs, with berths in international FIFA competitions up for grabs. Click here to see how SKC Alekzandur fared on the first day of the tournament.

11. Catch ‘Em All

The forthcoming weekend features a packed slate of compelling matchups in the United States and abroad. Check below for television listings for the most notable games, and refer to SportingKC.com's Starting XI throughout the season to find out where to watch the biggest matches from around the world.

Games to Watch (April 6-8, 2018)