Nashville vs. NY City (Saturday, 9.30pm)
© Reuters
The 2023 MLS regular season begins in the Music City on Saturday as Nashville SC host New York City FC in a matinee affair at GEODIS Park.
Last season, the Boys in Gold were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs, losing 1-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy, while the MLS Cup reign of NYCFC ended when they were beaten 3-1 by the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference Final.
We say: Nashville SC 2-0 New York City FC
With so many new faces in the NYCFC lineup, we suspect it will take some time for them to gel together as a unit, particularly on the backline.
Containing the Nashville attack might be a little more challenging this weekend, seeing as Picault is a capable secondary scorer who can compliment Mukhtar, so we expect that quality will overpower the newcomers at New York City.
How to watch
You can watch Nashville SC vs. New York City FC and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Atlanta vs. Earthquakes (Sunday, 12.30am)
© Reuters
Atlanta United will be looking to begin to right the wrongs of last season when they host San Jose Earthquakes at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday.
Both sides will be desperate to get off to strong starts this season, as the two sides were unable to qualify for the championship playoffs last term, with Atlanta finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference table and San Jose ending the season rock-bottom of the Western Conference.
We say: Atlanta United 2-2 San Jose Earthquakes
We believe that San Jose will break Atlanta's 100% win record against them and will fight their way to their first point of the MLS season at the first time of asking.
While San Jose do have defensive issues, we think that the danger they possess in forward areas has an equal capacity to hurt an Atlanta defence that has looked shaky throughout pre-season.
How to watch
You can watch Atlanta United vs. San Jose Earthquakes and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Charlotte FC vs. New England (Sunday, 12.30am)
© Reuters
Charlotte FC and New England Revolution get their new Major League Soccer campaign underway when they go head to head at the Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.
Both sides, who finished level on 42 points last season, missed out on the playoffs and will be looking to begin their quest for post-season football on the front foot.
We say: Charlotte FC 2-1 New England Revolution
Charlotte FC have brought in quality and experience into their squad as they begin their quest for a first playoff appearance. The results were split down the middle last season, with Charlotte and the Revs claiming wins on their home ground, and while we expect another classic on Saturday, we are backing Lattanzio's side to come out victorious.
How to watch
You can watch Charlotte FC vs. New England Revolution and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Cincinnati vs. Houston (Sunday, 12.30am)
© Reuters
FC Cincinnati take on Houston Dynamo at Paycor Stadium in their first MLS fixture of the season on Saturday night.
The two sides have not met since July 2021, when they played out a 1-1 draw at the Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.
We say: FC Cincinnati 3-2 Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo look a much-improved side under the helm of Olsen, but FC Cincinnati have home advantage, and they are undefeated in the previous two meetings between the sides.
As such, we expect a narrow home victory, with the game likely to be a high-scoring affair judging by both teams' results in pre-season.
How to watch
You can watch FC Cincinnati vs. Houston Dynamo and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.> Click here to read our full preview for this match
DC United vs. Toronto (Sunday, 12.30am)
© Reuters
A new season begins in Major League Soccer this weekend, as DC United host Toronto at Audi Field on Saturday with both sides looking to turn the corner following some dismal 2022 campaigns.
These were the two worst teams in the league last year, with DC collecting 27 points in the regular season, seven fewer than the Reds.
We say: DC United 1-2 Toronto
If they can stay healthy, the experienced newcomers in Toronto should provide some stability to their backline, and although DC might be a little sharper in the attacking third, we believe they might struggle to contain the experienced Reds strikers who transitioned seamlessly to MLS.
How to watch
You can watch DC United vs. Toronto and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Inter Miami vs. Montreal (Sunday, 12.30am)
© Reuters
The 2023 MLS season kicks off this weekend as Inter Miami welcome CF Montreal to the DRV PNK Stadium in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Inter Miami and Montreal will be looking to start the 2023 campaign strongly having both enjoyed excellent seasons last term with Inter Miami finishing sixth and Montreal finishing second in the Eastern Conference table.
We say: Inter Miami 1-2 CF Montreal
This is likely to be a tight contest with both sides being without key players from last season.
Montreal will be confident of taking last season's excellent away record into the new campaign and their positive momentum from the end of the 2022 season may just give them the edge against Miami.
How to watch
You can watch Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Orlando City vs. NY Red Bulls (Sunday, 12.30am)
© Reuters
Orlando City will host their first game of the season when they welcome New York Red Bulls to the Exploria Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Lions come into this MLS season off the back of a loss in their most recent pre-season friendly against New England, while Red Bulls head into this clash in fine form after flawlessly winning all four of their pre-season friendly matches.
We say: Orlando City 1-2 New York Red Bulls
We believe that Red Bull's impressive pre-season run will extend into the MLS season with a narrow win away against Orlando.
We think that this will be a close match-up and that the away side will be tested defensively in this engagement, but will score the necessary goals to edge the contest.
How to watch
You can watch Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Philadelphia vs. Columbus Crew (Sunday, 12.30am)
© Reuters
Philadelphia Union welcome Columbus Crew to Subaru Park in their first match of the 2023 MLS season on Saturday night.
It is the first meeting between the two sides since July 2022, when they played out a 0-0 draw at Lower.com Field in Ohio.
We say: Philadelphia Union 3-0 Columbus Crew
All the signs indicate that Philadelphia should be comfortable winners on Saturday night, getting their 2023 campaign off to the perfect start against a side they have a very good recent record against.
Not only are the U undefeated against Columbus in the last five meetings, they have not conceded a single goal in that time, and we expect that record to continue this weekend, given the disparity between the two sides last season.
How to watch
You can watch Philadelphia Union vs. Columbus Crew and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Austin vs. Saint Louis City (Sunday, 1.30am)
© Reuters
Major League Soccer kicks off a new campaign on Saturday with the newest club, Saint Louis City, travelling to Q2 Stadium for their first-ever regular season encounter against Austin FC.
In 2022, the Verde and Black were one of the surprise stories, making it to the Western Conference Final, while Saint Louis can become the first expansion franchise since Los Angeles FC in 2018 to win its inaugural regular season match.
We say: Austin FC 3-1 Saint Louis City
Expansion teams have been able to develop quickly in this league, but it still takes time to have the continuity needed to be successful, and we expect the learning curve will be a steep one for Saint Louis early on.
Whether or not Austin have fixed its defensive issues remains unknown, but even so, this team know who they are and have numerous attacking weapons at their disposal.
How to watch
You can watch Austin FC vs. Saint Louis City and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Dallas vs. Minnesota Utd (Sunday, 1.30am)
© Reuters
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.
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
You can watch Dallas vs. Minnesota United and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.> Click here to read our full preview for this match
LA Galaxy vs. Los Angeles (Sunday, 2.30am)
© Reuters
Major League Soccer's two Los Angeles sides will begin their league campaigns against one another on Sunday, as Los Angeles Galaxy host Los Angeles FC.
The visitors come into the new campaign as defending champions, after triumphing over Philadelphia Union in the MLS Cup final in November.
We say: Los Angeles Galaxy 0-1 Los Angeles FC
With several notable changes to the two sides' XIs from last season, Sunday's curtain-raiser promises to be an intriguing encounter, but we just lean towards the defending champions carrying their momentum into the new term and coming out on top.
How to watch
You can watch Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Los Angeles FC and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Portland vs. Kansas (Sunday, 3.30am)
© Reuters
Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City will kick off their Major League Soccer campaigns on Sunday, when they square off in the curtain-raiser at Providence Park.
Both teams missed out on the playoffs last time around and will fight to make a winning start to the new season.
We say: Portland Timbers 2-1 Sporting Kansas City
Portland Timbers fared better than their opponents last season and certainly boast the quality to return to the top end of the Conference, particularly with the addition of Evander, and we fancy them to make a winning start at home to Sporting Kansas City this weekend.
How to watch
You can watch Portland Timbers vs. Sporting Kansas City and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Vancouver vs. Salt Lake (Sunday, 3.30am)
© Reuters
After being a game away from making the postseason in 2022, the Vancouver Whitecaps open the new MLS campaign on Saturday by welcoming Real Salt Lake to BC Place Stadium.
A 2-0 defeat at Minnesota United on Decision Day last year eliminated the Caps from postseason contention, while RSL squandered a 2-0 lead in their opening-round playoff encounter versus Austin FC, eventually falling 3-1 on penalties.
We say: Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 Real Salt Lake
Adding a quality goalkeeper like Takaoka should allow the Caps to be a little more aggressive and take chances going forward, while the man between the sticks has shown he can make big stops when needed, something sorely missing for Vancouver last season.
RSL have a solid collective group, but staying with an up-tempo team like the Caps on that artificial turf could force them to chase the game and leave their defence exposed in transition.
