Game Day: Predictions & Lineup Prediction

The 2023 Major League Soccer kicks off tonight as FC Dallas welcomes Minnesota United FC to Frisco. Here’s a prediction, predicted lineup, and a couple of questions to watch for.

The wait is over. FC Dallas kicks off the 2023 season tonight by welcoming Minnesota United FC for what should be an entertaining start to a long campaign.

The big news is not from Dallas’ perspective but from Minnesota United’s vantage point - they are missing their best player in Emmanuel Reynoso, an attacking creative talent who is MIA.

Meanwhile, FC Dallas should have all of their starters from last season ready to go and prepared to build on the strong finish from 2022.

My predicted lineup is hardly a shocker. There is only one question mark, and that’s Ema Twumasi or Geovane Jesus at right back. At this point, I probably lean toward given Geovane Jesus his first official MLS start, because Twumasi may still be working back from an injury. And who will start next to Martinez at CB? Otherwise, it might look like this:

GK - Paes / RB - Jesus - CB - Ibeagha & Martinez - LB - Farfan - CM - Pomykal, Lletget & Quignon - Wings - Arriola and Velasco - Striker - Jesus Ferreira

Nothing shocking, really? I’d love to see Tafari start at CB, and maybe he will but I don’t imagine the team will go that far from what they revealed against Houston.

For the overall match prediction, I’m going with a 1-0 home win for FC Dallas as both teams build fitness and try to keep things tight defensively. A single counter attack or flubbed corner leaders to the first FCD goal of the year, and Minnesota, without their attacking star, can’t find a tying volley. A boring game would suit FC Dallas quite well.

Other contributors to Afterburn suggest this:

Ismael Belkoura writes, “2-0 Dallas, Jesus and Tsiki goals”

Tommy LeBeouf predicts “FC Dallas 2-0. Pk goal by Jesus another by Velasco”

Jose Carmona suggests “1-0, Jesus with the goal. FCD will have more chances, but will have to settle for the lone goal.”