Philadelphia vs. Minnesota Utd (Saturday, 6.00pm)
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After being minutes away from a potential MLS Cup Final a year ago, the Philadelphia Union begin the 2022 regular season by hosting Minnesota United on Saturday at Subaru Park.
Philly have finished in a top-three position over their previous three Eastern Conference campaigns, while The Loons ended 2021 in fifth out west but were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs, 3-1, by the Portland Timbers.
We say: Philadelphia Union 2-0 Minnesota United
The Union may not be that much better on paper, but they have enough experience and always seem to find ways to win, and we expect that they will do that on Saturday.
Minnesota do not appear to have improved from 2021, and their lack of depth up high could allow the Union to key on Lod, while the rest of the team do not possess the same kind of quality as the Finnish attacking midfielder.
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Columbus Crew vs. Vancouver (Saturday, 8.30pm)
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It's a new season in Major League Soccer and with it comes new hope for the 2020 champions, the Columbus Crew, who will welcome the Vancouver Whitecaps to Lower.com Field on Saturday.
Columbus missed the playoffs in 2021, finishing a point back of the New York Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference, while the Whitecaps were one of the hottest teams in the second half of last year, finishing sixth in the west, but losing 3-1 to Sporting Kansas City in the opening round of the postseason.
We say: Columbus Crew 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps
This season, we expect to see Columbus back in form with their key components intact and a robust midfield presence that can make them a dangerous team to face.
The Caps may not have Crepeau to bail them out, but their speed and transition game should give the Crew a few headaches, while their creativity will likely enable this strong attacking squad more than a few openings in the final third.
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Los Angeles vs. Colorado (Saturday, 8.30pm)
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The 2022 Major League Soccer regular season kicks off on Saturday, as Los Angeles FC begin life under new management when they face a team that exceeded expectations last year, the Colorado Rapids.
LA missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in 2021, leading to the departure of manager Bob Bradley, while the Burgundy Boys finished first in the Western Conference a season ago, only to fall to the Portland Timbers 1-0 in the playoffs.
We say: Los Angeles FC 1-0 Colorado Rapids
LA made some savvy moves during the offseason, and they should be a side to be aware of in attack, while they now have a goalkeeper who might make their defence look better than they actually are.
The Rapids failed to address their goalscoring issues after their elimination from the postseason, and beating a keeper with the calibre of Crepeau will be quite the challenge.
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Dallas vs. Toronto (Saturday, 10.30pm)
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On Saturday, we will get our first look at two Major League Soccer clubs that went through significant changes during the offseason as Dallas open the 2022 campaign by hosting Toronto at Toyota Stadium.
Neither side had a particularly memorable 2021, as they each missed the playoffs, with The Toros finishing 11th in the Western Conference, while TFC have turned things over to Bob Bradley after ending last season as the second-worst team in MLS.
We say: Dallas 2-1 Toronto
It takes time to bring a new-look team together, and that will be the case for both of these sides when they hit the field in Texas this weekend.
Toronto may be improved on paper, although Insigne is not slated to arrive until later this summer, and it remains unclear whether they are sharper defensively, so expect to see them struggle when it comes to containing the speed and aggressiveness that The Toros bring to the table.
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DC United vs. Charlotte (Saturday, 11.00pm)
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Charlotte FC will kick off their maiden campaign in Major League Soccer with a difficult away trip to DC United on Saturday.
A mainstay in MLS for a number of years, the contrast between the two sides could hardly be greater, with Charlotte hoping to make an impact on the opening night.
We say: DC United 3-0 Charlotte Independence
While their optimism may be high, the expectations for Charlotte are considerably low.
Expect DC United to stroll to a comfortable victory in their season opener, with Charlotte likely to need some time to organise themselves.
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Austin vs. Cincinnati (Saturday, 11.00pm)
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Austin FC will begin their second season in the MLS with a home fixture against FC Cincinnati, with both sides looking for better campaigns after a rather underwhelming 2021 season.
In their debut campaign, Austin could only muster a 12th place finish in the Western Conference, while the Orange and Blue finished bottom of the pile in the Eastern Conference.
We say: Austin FC 2-1 FC Cincinnati
The two sides did not meet last season so Saturday's contest will be the first encounter between Austin and Cincinnati, and with home advantage in their favour on opening night, we think Austin will edge out the Orange and Blue to start the campaign on a positive note.
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Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire (Saturday, 11.00pm)
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After a troublesome couple of seasons in Major League Soccer, Inter Miami will be keen to kick the 2022 campaign off with a bang against Chicago Fire on Saturday.
Neither side reached the playoffs last time out, but a top-seven finish should be the target for both clubs this season.
We say: Inter Miami 2-2 Chicago Fire
Having enjoyed one of the best MLS transfer windows in recent memory, the expectation is high among the Chicago Fire faithful, with hopes that their side can challenge at the top of the division this season.
Inter Miami know more than anyone the struggles of finding a balance within a squad, with the Herons no doubt confident of taking points this weekend.
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Earthquakes vs. NY Red Bulls (Saturday, 11.00pm)
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San Jose Earthquakes will kick off their Major League Soccer campaign off with a tricky test at home to New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
The hosts were unable to make the Western Conference playoffs last season, while the visitors failed to progress past the first round of the Eastern Conference knockouts.
We say: San Jose Earthquakes 1-1 New York Red Bulls
A difficult proposition awaits the Earthquakes, who will not be overjoyed to kick the season off against a hungry Red Bulls side.
The head-to-head record points towards the Eastern Conference side for this one, but a score draw remains the most likely outcome.
