FC Dallas looks to begin their season with a win on Saturday as they host Minnesota United, the team they helped kick out of the MLS Cup Playoffs a year ago.

Head coach Nico Estevez is entering his second season in charge with FC Dallas and is looking to improve on a team that finished third place in the Western Conference a season ago.

FC Dallas has a home opener record of 14-4-9 and a 9-1-7 record at Toyota Stadium, with a 13-match unbeaten streak in the home opener since 2010. They also finished last season with a seven-game unbeaten streak at home too, with four of the last five wins coming by one-goal margins.

FC Dallas Notes:

Key player for FC Dallas: Jesus Ferreira - We haven’t seen the same goal-scoring Jesus since last fall. If he can get off to a good start here on Saturday, it will be exactly what this club needs to begin the season on the right foot.

Season Opener Record - Since 1996, FC Dallas has a season opener record of 13-4-10. Last season, FC Dallas tied Toronto FC 1-1 in the opener.

Nico in year 2 - Head coach Nico Estévez led FC Dallas last year to a 14-9-11 in 2022. The club’s final tally of 53 points was a 20-point turnaround from 2021, marking the club’s biggest year-over-year improvement in its 26-year history. Estévez also oversaw the team’s first home playoff victory since 2016.

Too close for comfort in 2022 - FC Dallas went 6-6-0 with a 0.500 winning percentage in matches decided by one goal in 2022.

Against Minnesota at home - FC Dallas is 6-6-2 in regular season matches against Minnesota United FC with a 4-1-2 record at Toyota Stadium. The one loss did come last May as Minnesota found a 1-0 victory in Frisco. FC Dallas last defeated Minnesota United 5-4 in the penalty shootout of the Round One playoff match on Oct. 17 at Toyota Stadium.

Disciplinary Report

Suspended: none

Suspended after next yellow: none

Availability Report

Out: Tarik Scott (ACL/MCL)

Questionable: none

On Loan: Dante Sealy, Justin Che

International duty: none

Minnesota Notes:

Key player for Minnesota: Robin Lod - With Reynoso suspended and still in Argentina, Lod will be called upon to be the guy that helps facilitate the attack in the midfield for the Loons. Stopping him likely means stopping their attack.

Fun connections - Bongokuhle Hlongwane and FCD’s Tsiki Ntsabeleng are the only two active MLS players that hail from South Africa.

Finding that first goal - Midfielder Robin Lod and forward Luis Amarilla are the only current MNUFC players to have scored during one of the club’s MLS Season Openers. Lod scored the lone goal against Philadelphia in the 23rd minute of the match on February 26, 2022, while Amarilla found the back of the net in the 76th minute against the Portland Timbers on March 1, 2020.

Disciplinary Report

Suspended: Emanuel Reynoso

Suspended after next yellow: none

Availability Report

Out: Bakaye Dibassy, Doneil Henry, Ryen Jiba, Mikael Marques

Questionable: none

On Loan:

International duty: none

How to watch

Kickoff: 7:30 PM

Venue: Toyota Stadium

Available Streaming: MLS Season Pass

Gameday Social: #FCDvMNU

Weather: 60 degrees