Minnesota United will start Sunday's Western Conference Round One match in the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs with one of their most prominent attackers on the bench, while the LA Galaxy will have one of theirs at their disposal for the first time after a lengthy layoff when the sides meet at Allianz Field.
Darwin Quintero is not in the starting XI for Adrian Heath's men for the matchup, while Galaxy midfielder Romain Alessandrini is in the 18 for the Galaxy for the first time since he suffered a meniscus injury against the Houston Dynamo on April 19.
Quintero's omission might seem like a surprise, but Heath has been known to play him in a super-sub role this season, notably in Minnesota's defeat to Atlanta United in this year's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final. Should the Loons find themselves chasing a goal in the second half, it's likely Heath will turn to the Colombian attacker.
Alessandrini has missed most of the Galaxy's 2019 campaign, but has been ramping up his activity in training the past few weeks, and Galaxy coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto said he feels as though the Frenchman is physically ready for a 30-minute shift off the bench if his services are needed.
Check out the full lineups for both teams below.
