The opening weekend of the MLS 2025 season concludes on Sunday night with a double header of action which includes the introduction of the Sunday Night Football which will be a new concept in MLS this season.
That slot features the game of the week and is the second part of the double header. Both matches, as every game this season is, will be shown live and in full on the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Bookmaker live streams will also show both games.
Portland Timbers vs Vancouver Whitecaps (21.00)
The opening match of the night is the first Cascadia Cup clash of the season as the Portland Timbers play host to their rivals Vancouver Whitecaps with both teams looking to make a positive start in what really does look like a competitive Western Conference this term.
These two teams might be a work in progress and difficult to predict initially. Portland lost their star man Evander to FC Cincinnati and although they have replaced him with David da Costa but he was a fairly late arrival and you wonder if we will see his best in a couple of weeks. Vancouver are involved in Champions Cup action last week and this and they were in Costa Rica on Thursday evening so immediately the schedule has gone against them. When you throw in the rivalry here too this is an easy one to leave alone.
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LA Galaxy vs San Diego FC (00.00)
The opening Sunday Night Football of the new season sees the champions LA Galaxy getting their title defence underway when they welcome the new boys in the league in San Diego FC to Dignity Health Sports Park.
Galaxy were deserved winners of the MLS Cup last year but they have lost a few key members of that winning squad and this is the chance for the class of 2025 to show that they have what it takes to emulate that team. San Diego will be the first team to go at the hunted rather than the hunters and they probably have nothing to lose this season because even though a couple of recent expansion teams have gone well, generally they are expected to deliver in season two not season one. There is every chance that San Diego will have the best player on the pitch in Chucky Luzano and he will get his side into dangerous areas. We have seen defences struggle all weekend and it wouldn’t be a surprise were that to happen here. San Diego walloped New York Red Bulls 6-0 in a friendly last week so there are goals in them but it would be a surprise if they keep the Galaxy out so the bet I like here is BTTS and over 2.5 goals, a punt that has already landed seven times this weekend. Galaxy were top scorers in the west last season but they conceded almost 1.5 goals per game. This is ripe for goals at both ends and one of the teams to score twice.
Tips
Back BTTS and over 2.5 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with Betway
