The Seattle Sounders are hosting Minnesota United on Friday (6:30 p.m. PT; FS1) at Lumen Field. Here are three matchups to watch:
Raúl Ruidíaz vs. Bakaye Dibassy
Ruidíaz returned to Seattle last week after acquiring his United States green card before going 45 minutes in the Sounders’ 1-0 preseason win over USL side San Diego Loyal SC on Saturday. The 2020 MLS Best XI selection scored 12 goals in 17 appearances last year and will get an immediate challenge against Dibassy, a strong French center back, who also happened to score against Seattle in last year’s Western Conference Championship. Ruidíaz added a late equalizer himself and will be hungry to get back on the score sheet as well.
João Paulo vs. Emanuel Reynoso
The Sounders will have their hands full with Reynoso, the crafty Argentine No. 10, who scored and assisted in Minnesota’s loss to Seattle in the playoffs. He ended the year on a tear and took the league by storm after his arrival in the final third of the season, and he’ll be eager to pick up where he left off. Look for João Paulo to make Reynoso uncomfortable early while also keeping possession and forcing Reynoso to do more defending than he’d like.
Sounders center backs vs. Ramón Ábila
Regardless of which players line up at center back on Friday, their main task will be slowing down the newly acquired Ábila, who scored 34 goals and added 13 assists in 81 appearances for Argentine giants Boca Juniors. Seattle finished 2020 as one of the league’s most formidable defenses, and the club is hoping to start off the new campaign with another strong performance in the back.
