Expansion side Minnesota will play their first-ever MLS match on Friday night, as they travel to Portland to take on the Timbers in the MLS season opener. Here are three things to watch for in this matchup:
1) Portland’s attacking cohesion
Portland’s attack has only added one piece this offseason that should start. But it was a big addition. The Argentinian winger Sebastian Blanco adds to an already dangerous attack, and they’ll hope he’s able to work well with Diego Valeri, Darlington Nagbe, and Fenendo Adi. The question is, will the attack be able to fully gel as a unit despite Blanco’s unfamiliarity with the rest of the attack, or will it take a couple of matches?