The biggest news in the early weeks of the 2023 Major League Soccer campaign is the acquisition of a stake in Nashville SC by Giannis Antetokounmpo, a star for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, and his brothers Thanasis, Kostas and Alex. They invested in the team to pay homage to their late father, Charles, who had a professional soccer career in Germany and Nigeria. The Antetokounmpo family is not the only group of athletes that has invested in Nashville SC; Filip Forsberg of the NHL’s Nashville Predators also has a stake.
Going into the weekend, don’t miss our two sports betting picks from MLS action.
MLS News: Top Weekend Games
FC Dallas vs L.A. Galaxy (8:30 pm ET)
Saturday, March 4
The Galaxy had their 2023 season opener postponed because of inclement weather – snow in Southern California! – so they kick 2023 off in Frisco, Texas, after heading east to take on FC Dallas. The Galaxy are 15-8-4 in 27 season openers in MLS, and they are unbeaten (2-0-1) in their last three road openers dating back to 2011. The Galaxy last opened on the road in 2021 and came from behind to knock off Inter Miami CF, 3-2, in April 18, 2021. The last time the Galaxy lost a season opener was 2017; since then, the team has gone 4-0-1 in openers. When the Galaxy meet FC Dallas it will be the 90th clash across all competitions. The Galaxy lead the series, 41-35-13. However, Toyota Stadium has been an extremely difficult place for the Galaxy to play, as the hosts have won six meetings in a row, dating back to August 2015.
FC Dallas opened the regular season at home against Minnesota United. Despite possessing for 63% of the match, the hosts could only manage one shot on goal, preferring to launch most of their shots (11 in all) from distance. Minnesota managed four shots on target out of eight in total, including a goal from Mender Garcia in the 48th minute. This is a Minnesota United team that lost Emanuel Reynoso and is heading into an unexciting 2023, and FC Dallas looked lackadaisical the whole night. LA Galaxy to win.
Seattle Sounders vs Real Salt Lake (10:30 pm ET)
Saturday, March 4
The Sounders opened their 2023 regular season with a thunderous rout of the Colorado Rapids at home last week. Their 4-0 win gave them a jump in goal differential and an emphatic three points. Their next match involves a visit from Real Salt Lake, who have only four total wins in Seattle. The Sounders have an 11-4-2 home record against the visitors, and what makes Seattle even more scary is the fact that they found the back of the net four times against Colorado without star forward Raul Ruidiaz. Wingers Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan, along with new forward Heber, generated plenty of offense on their own, and Ruidiaz will be back for Saturday’s match.
Real Salt Lake also opened 2023 with a victory, taking down the Whitecaps up in Vancouver last week, 2-1. That gave RSL a win in 14 consecutive season openers, the longest winning streak in openers in league history. Vancouver jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Javain Brown scored in the 24th minute, but Real Salt Lake broke through with the equalizer from Justen Glad in the 70th minute. Three minutes later, Damir Kreilach nailed the game-winner, giving RSL the result even though they possessed just 44% of the game and were outshot, 18-11 (although both teams put seven shots on target). Seattle to win.
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