Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta (Saturday, 7.00pm)
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The Columbus Crew will begin defence of their MLS Cup on Saturday as they open the 2024 domestic campaign by welcoming Atlanta United to Lower.com Field.
These sides met in a three-game opening-round playoff series last season, with the Crew winning the decisive third match by a 4-2 score.
We say: Columbus Crew 3-2 Atlanta United
Both sides play an attractive brand of attacking football, and with the quality of 2023 MLS Cup MVP Cucho Hernandez and Giorgos Giakoumakis on display, we expect the back of the net to bulge a few times.
We are giving the Crew the edge because most of their key players and chance creators have played together in big games, whereas this Atlanta side may need more time to familiarise themselves with one another.
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Los Angeles vs. Seattle (Saturday, 9.30pm)
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In a rematch of the 2023 Western Conference semi-finals, Los Angeles FC open the 2024 MLS campaign by welcoming the Seattle Sounders to BMO Stadium.
The Black and Gold knocked the Rave Green out of the playoffs last season, winning that second-round fixture 1-0, but ultimately lost in the MLS Cup final, 2-1 versus the Columbus Crew.
We say: Los Angeles FC 1-0 Seattle Sounders
We have no doubt Seattle will be difficult to score on this season, but we are not convinced they will be able to bury their chances.
LAFC, meanwhile, have no problem hanging back, and they have an established leader and shot-stopper between the sticks, along with plenty of quality in the attack.
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Charlotte FC vs. NY City (Sunday, 12.30am)
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Charlotte FC can maintain their 100% record at home versus New York City FC when they open the 2024 MLS regular season against them on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium.
The Crown made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history a season ago, losing their Wild Card fixture versus the New York Red Bulls (5-2), while the Pigeons missed the post-season for only the second time in club history, finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference.
We say: Charlotte FC 1-2 New York City FC
There are a lot of new faces in Charlotte, and it might take them a while to gel as a unit, while we are unconvinced they have sorted out their goalkeeping issues.
After a difficult 2023 campaign, having a long off-season to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings should be helpful to the Pigeons, who have plenty of attacking depth which should serve them well in this match.
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DC United vs. New England (Sunday, 12.30am)
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DC United and New England Revolution will be seeking to begin the 2024 MLS campaigns on a high when they go head to head at Audi Field on Saturday.
The Revs head into the weekend off the back of securing a first-leg victory over Independiente de la Chorrera in the CONCACAF Champions Cup qualifiers and will look to keep the juggernaut rolling.
We say: DC United 2-2 New England Revolution
New England Revolution have won four of their last five visits to Audi Field and will be backing themselves to come away with the desired results once again. However, we predict DC United will do just enough to force a share of the spoils.
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Orlando City vs. Montreal (Sunday, 12.30am)
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For the second time in three years, Orlando City and CF Montreal will open their Major League Soccer (MLS) regular seasons by facing each other at Exploria Stadium on Saturday.
The Lions were knocked out of the Eastern Conference semi-finals last season, losing 2-0 in extra time versus the Columbus Crew, the same team that ended the playoff hopes of Montreal last season, beating them 2-1 on Decision Day.
We say: Orlando City 1-0 CF Montreal
The Lions have not lost their opening fixture in this competition since 2021, and their team chemistry should allow them to settle into this match quicker than Le CFM.
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Philadelphia vs. Chicago Fire (Sunday, 12.30am)
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The Chicago Fire can end a lengthy winless run at Subaru Park when they open their MLS campaign by visiting the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
Philly exited the 2023 domestic campaign with a 1-0 defeat versus FC Cincinnati in the second round of the playoffs, while Chicago finished third from bottom in the Eastern Conference with 40 points.
We say: Philadelphia Union 1-0 Chicago Fire
There are too many unknowns in Chicago right now, so we are going with the Union, who have been among the most consistent MLS sides in the regular season.
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Austin vs. Minnesota Utd (Sunday, 1.30am)
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Austin FC and Minnesota United will be looking to get off and running in the new MLS campaign when they square off in the season opener on Saturday.
Having lost both home and away meetings between the sides last year, the visitors will journey to the Q2 Stadium looking to get one over the Verde and Black and begin the season as they mean to go on.
We say: Austin FC 3-1 Minnesota United
The last four meetings between Austin and Minnesota United have produced a combined 12 goals and we anticipate another action-packed contest at the Q2 Stadium. While we expect the Loons to put up a fight, we are backing Wolff's men to come away with all three points in front of their home supporters.
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Dallas vs. Earthquakes (Sunday, 1.30am)
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Both looking to begin the 2024 season on a positive note, Dallas will welcome San Jose Earthquakes to Toyota Stadium for a MLS clash on Saturday night in Texas.
The Toros will be looking to secure another playoff finish after ending up in seventh last term, while the Quakes will be aiming to place higher than last campaign's ninth.
We say: Dallas 2-1 San Jose Earthquakes
In an opening match of the season which could be quite cagey, Dallas having home-field advantage could make all the difference on Saturday night.
The Toros will be raring to unleash record-signing Musa on MLS, and we reckon that the Portuguese attacker will have a winning start to life in North America.
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Houston vs. Kansas (Sunday, 1.30am)
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On the first weekend of the new MLS season, Houston Dynamo welcome Sporting Kansas City to Texas on Saturday evening.
This fixture will see a repeat of one of last season's Western Conference playoff semi-finals, which Houston won by a solitary goal to nil.
We say: Houston Dynamo 1-1 Sporting Kansas City
While Houston got the better of Kansas in that huge encounter in the playoffs last season, a more reserved encounter could be in store with much less riding on proceedings.
Both sides will want a positive start to get their campaign underway though, but the hosts need to prove they can cope with life after Baird following a defeat in continental action in midweek.
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St Louis City vs. Salt Lake (Sunday, 1.30am)
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St Louis City get their 2024 Major League Soccer campaign underway with a meeting against Real Salt Lake at the City Park on Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, the away side will be looking to get their league campaign up and running off the back of a defeat in their opening fixture last time out.
We say: St Louis City 2-2 Real Salt Lake
The previous two meetings between Sunday's opponents have yielded a combined eight goals, and we expect another entertaining affair here. That said, we are also backing a share of the spoils with honours even at the end of the 90 minutes.
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Portland vs. Colorado (Sunday, 3.30am)
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Portland Timbers welcome Colorado Rapids to Providence Park on Saturday evening on the opening weekend of the new MLS season.
Both sides did not make it into the Western conference playoffs last season, with the visitors finishing at the bottom while the hosts missed out by a point.
We say: Portland Timbers 2-1 Colorado Rapids
Portland have dominated this fixture on home soil and we expect the energy of the home crowd to push them to victory once again in their first game of the season.
Both sides will want a positive start to get their campaign underway, but the hosts will have more incentive to edge the game in the end.
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Ben Knapton
