Up next for Galaxy: Saturday at Columbus

AT COLUMBUS

When: 4:30 PDT.

Where: Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio.

On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 1150, 1330.

Records: Galaxy 10-5-11, Crew 11-4-10.

Record vs. Crew: 0-0-1.

Update: Columbus, the defending league champion, is in first place overall and will provide a real test of just how much the third-place Galaxy has improved this season, even though Los Angeles will be without midfielder David Beckham, who has an injured Achilles’ tendon. After today’s game, the Galaxy will have only three regular-season games left and is well-positioned to make the playoffs, but Arena is preaching caution. The teams tied, 1-1, at the Home Depot Center in May. For a more detailed preview, go to latimes.com/sports/soccer.

-- Grahame L. Jones