Get ready for the season opener on Sunday with some fast facts about the matchup against the Timbers.

• This will be the second time MNUFC has started its season in Portland. The first time was in its inaugural MLS season in 2017.


• Minnesota went 2-0-1 against Portland in all competitions last year. The Loons claimed back-to-back wins at Allianz Field in MLS and U.S. Open Cup games in August. They followed it up with a 0-0 draw at Providence Park.


• Osvaldo Alonso has an 11-5-7 career regular season record against the Timbers.


• MNUFC has not lost to the Timbers in the last three regular season meetings.


• The last five games in the all-time regular season series between these teams have been decided by one goal or less.


• Both teams qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2019 and were eliminated in the opening round.


• Minnesota set MLS club records in 2019 with 15 wins, 53 points and 52 goals scored during the season. The team tied its single-season record for assists with 46.


• Ike Opara was named 2019 MLS Defender of the Year.


• Diego Valeri finished second in MLS last year with 16 assists.


• Diego Chara accumulated 11 yellow cards in 2019, tying him for the third-most in the league.


• Minnesota defeated Portland 4-2 in a preseason game last week. Raheem Edwards scored twice, along with tallies from Thomas Chacon and Luis Amarilla.


• MNUFC has participated in Portland’s preseason tournament three times since 2016.


• Amarilla scored in three of his last four preseason appearances.


• Defender Chase Gasper earned his first U.S. men’s national team appearance during the offseason. He came on as a substitute in the 77th minute during a friendly against Costa Rica.


• Minnesota has not won at Providence Park since joining MLS.


• Due to construction at Providence Park, the Timbers did not play a home game in 2019 until June 1.


• Two expansion teams join MLS this season: Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC. Inter Miami is the second Dade County-based team to play in MLS, the first being the Miami Fusion. Nashville SC joins the league after previously playing in the USL Championship.

MINNESOTA CONNECTIONS

• MNUFC Director of Player Personnel Amos Magee was on Portland Timbers’ coaching staff from 2009–2013.


• MNUFC Assistant Coach Sean McAuley was an assistant coach on the Timbers' staff from 2012 to 2018. He also played for the Timbers in 2002, making 16 appearances.


• Jeff Attinella was selected by MNUFC from Real Salt Lake in the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft but was later traded to Portland. He also played against Minnesota during his time in the NASL.


• Michael Boxall, Noah Billingsley, James Musa and Bill Tuiloma are all members of the New Zealand national team.


• Steve Clark and Ethan Finlay played for Columbus Crew SC from 2014 through 2016. Aaron Schoenfeld played with them in 2014 and 2015.


• Jorge Moreira and Luis Amarilla have both played for the Paraguay U20 national team.


• Jacori Hayes played for the Timbers’ U23 team during the 2014 season.


• Jeremy Ebobisse and Hayes both played for the D.C. United U23 team in 2015.


• Cristhian Paredes and Amarilla were teammates on Sol de America in 2016.