The Galaxy's Champions League game with Santos Laguna will be a chemistry test

The game is the opener of a two-leg CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal playoff, and that means the Galaxy will be battling history as well. Mexican teams have won all seven Champions League titles since the 24-team regional soccer tournament changed formats in 2008.

Although the tournament begins with group play in the summer, the knockout round isn't played until the early spring, when MLS teams are still in training camp and Liga MX teams are nearly halfway through their 17-game Clausura schedule.

"Are they going to be much fitter than us? Of course they are. That's just natural when you've played seven games and we haven't played a competitive game yet. The way the schedule works, it's certainly not suited for the MLS. But that is what it is, so we've have to get on with it."

The Galaxy will also be trying to find chemistry with a lineup featuring as many as seven starters who weren't with the team at this point last season. Chief among the newcomers are defenders Ashley Cole and Jelle Van Damme and midfielder Nigel de Jong, who combine to give the Galaxy a physical presence it lacked last season.

"We're still getting to know each other. We've got guys that have been here two weeks," said defender A.J. DeLaGarza, the only player remaining from Coach Bruce Arena's first full season with the Galaxy in 2009.

But, DeLaGarza added, "We should be able to compete and win these things."

MLS' Montreal franchise came close last season when it reached the two-leg final before losing to Club America of Mexico City. This year, for the first time under the new format, the tournament's final eight teams are split between the Liga MX and MLS, with four representatives from each side.

The Galaxy and Santos will meet again in the playoff's second leg next week in Torreon, Mexico, where the quarterfinal winner will be determined by aggregate goals.