The 2023 MLS season begins this weekend as Dallas welcome Minnesota United to the Toyota Stadium on Sunday.
Both Dallas and Minnesota will be looking to build on promising campaigns last term, in which they finished in the playoff places of the Western Conference table.
Match preview
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A third-placed finish represented a strong 2022 season for Nico Estevez's Dallas, although they will have been disappointed to have finished 14 points behind the eventual table-toppers Los Angeles.
Dallas will be looking to lay down an early marker on Sunday against Minnesota as they try to put together a more sustainable title challenge this term.
The Hoops will be aiming to repeat their excellent home record from last season as the 10 wins they managed at the Toyota Stadium were central to their success.
Sunday's opener provides Estevez's team with a chance to start the season in front of their own fans with three points.
Two players who will be pivotal to Dallas' hopes this season are striker Jesus Ferreira and right-winger Paul Arriola. Ferreira and Arriola bagged 28 goals and 12 assists between them last season and they will be hoping to start the new season in similar fashion against Minnesota on Sunday.
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Adrian Heath's Minnesota were knocked out in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs by Sunday's opponents following a sixth-placed finish last season. United have a chance to gain immediate revenge as they travel to Texas for the 2023 season opener.
The Loons finished last season in dreadful form, with four of their last six games being losses. They will hope that a new season will bring about a change in their fortunes and three points on Sunday will set Minnesota up nicely for the months ahead.
Minnesota will need a better away record in 2023 if they are to improve on last season with their tally of 10 losses being the joint-third worst in the Western Conference.
Sunday's match provides United with an opportunity to claim their first three points on the road since a 2-1 win against Nashville on August 15.
Emmanuel Reynoso's 10 goals and six assists last term were a big reason why Minnesota finished in the top six.
Reynoso being suspended by the MLS for failing to report for pre-season training is a blow for the Loons and they will need other players to fill his creative void on Sunday.
Dallas may have knocked Minnesota out of the playoffs in October but United will be aiming for a repeat of their 2-1 success in the corresponding regular season fixture between the teams when they meet again on Sunday.
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Team News
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Dallas have a clean bill of health ahead of the new season so Nico Estevez is likely to field a similar 11 to the one that lost to Austin in the MLS Cup playoff quarter-finals at the end of last season.
The lone striker Ferreira will be supported by Arriola, Alan Velasco and Sebastian Lletget in attack, whilst Facundo Quignon and Brandon Servania will protect the defence.
Minnesota will be without defender Bakaye Dibassy who has a ruptured thigh muscle, whilst midfielder Hassani Dotson is sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury.
Right-winger Patrick Weah will also be missing for United with a knee injury; Cameron Dunbar might make his debut in Weah's place following his move from LA Galaxy in November.
Adrian Heath could deviate from his usual 4-3-3 system for Sunday's opener due to the fact that there is no natural replacement for Reynoso in the squad, so Mender Garcia could partner Luis Amarilla up front in a 4-4-2.
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Twumasi, Martinez, Hedges, Farfan; Quignon, Servania, Lletget; Arriola, Ferreira, Velasco
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St Clair; Tayor, Kallman, Boxall, Lawrence; Lod, Trapp, Dunbar, Fragapane; Garcia, Amarilla
We say: Dallas 2-0 Minnesota United
Dallas come into Sunday's opener as favourites due to their excellent 2022 season and Minnesota's dreadful form at the end of last season.
The visitors being without their main attacking threat means that Dallas will be very confident of kicking off their season with three points. Ferreira and Arriola will surely be too much for a Reynoso-less Minnesota to cope with.
How to watch
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