After last weekend's clash with Los Angeles FC was postponed due to severe weather, Los Angeles Galaxy will begin their 2023 MLS campaign by travelling to the Toyota Stadium to take on Dallas in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The hosts will be looking to respond to their defeat to Minnesota United last weekend, while the Galaxy come into the 2023 campaign looking for a sixth MLS Cup title.
Match preview
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Dallas' 13-match unbeaten run in season-opening matches came to an end with a 1-0 loss to Minnesota United last weekend, courtesy of Mender Garcia's second-half strike.
That defeat marks a far from ideal start on their home patch where they enjoyed so much success in 2022 - the Hoops managed 10 wins at the Toyota Stadium last term.
A third-placed finish in the Western Conference 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 FC.
Estevez will want to see a response from his side this weekend against an LA Galaxy side that won six of their 17 away trips last season.
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Meanwhile, Los Angeles Galaxy have had to wait an extra week to commence their 2023 MLS campaign, after their clash against their cross-town rivals was postponed due to a storm in the Los Angeles area. The fixture against Los Angeles FC is now scheduled to take place on July 4 at the Rose Bowl Stadium.
Following a disappointing 2021 term, the Galaxy managed to return to the playoff picture last season, finishing fourth in the Western Conference with 50 points from their 34 matches before getting past Nashville SC in the first playoff round as Julian Araujo netted the only goal of the game.
That booked them a conference semi-final tie with Los Angeles FC, but Greg Vanney's side were defeated 3-2 by their rivals, as Cristian Arango hit the decisive goal in injury time after Dejan Joveljic had drawn Galaxy level in the 85th minute.
Now turning their attention to the new season, Vanney's men come into Sunday's meeting on the back of having won two of their six preseason friendlies, including a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC last time out, courtesy of strikes from Efrain Alvarez and Marco Delgado.
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Team News
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Dallas have a clean bill of health, so Nico Estevez is likely to field a similar XI to the one that lost to Minnesota last week.
The lone striker Jesus Ferreira will be supported by Paul Arriola, Alan Velasco and Sebastian Lletget in attack, whilst Facundo Quignon and Paxton Pomykal will protect the defence.
Los Angeles Galaxy could be missing key forward Javier Hernandez, who suffered an injury in training recently after hitting 35 goals over the last two MLS seasons, while full-back Julian Araujo will also not feature after departing for Barcelona.
However, the Galaxy have recently acquired defender Lucas Calegari on loan from Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A side Fluminense FC with a permanent transfer option, so he could be thrown straight into the starting XI this weekend.
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Twumasi, Martinez, Ibeagha, Farfan; Quignon, Pomykal, Lletget; Arriola, Ferreira, Velasco
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
Bond; Leerdam, Neal, Mavinga, Edwards; Delgado, Brugman, Puig; Alvarez, Joveljic, Rodriguez
We say: Dallas 1-0 Los Angeles Galaxy
Last week's defeat to Minnesota came as a surprise to most as Dallas enjoyed an excellent 2022 season, but we think that they will put that right here.
We are leaning more towards a Dallas victory, especially if Javier Hernandez is absent for the visitors.
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