As part of our countdown to MLS opening weekend, we're taking a look at each Week 1 match. On Tuesday, we break down the storylines around the San Jose Earthquakes-Montreal Impact match on March 2 (10 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US and DAZN in Canada).
It's a new era in San Jose, as Matias Almeyda will make his regular season Earthquakes coaching debut against Nacho Piatti and the Montreal Impact.
The Quakes didn't have much by way of flexibility this offseason, allowing Almeyda to only make slight alterations to the squad that finished bottom of the league in 2018. But Almeyda's resume and reputation bring a buzz of optimism at Avaya Stadium. As for Montreal, well, as long as they have Piatti, they have a chance.
Here are three things to watch as the Quakes host the Impact:
#WondoWatch
Chris Wondolowski is one goal from tying Landon Donovan's all-time MLS record of 145 career goals and a brace would put him alone atop the record books. The 36-year-old would like nothing more than to get it sorted as early as possible so his day-to-day can return to normalcy.
“I wish it was done so I didn’t have to think about it all offseason,” Wondolowsk said in January. “It’s the elephant in the room, but that being said I just want to do everything I can to help us win.”
Soon enough, Wondo, soon enough. For what it's worth: he has two goals in his last four starts against the Impact.
Piatti, Urruti and the Impact attack
Over the last three seasons, Piatti has had 50 goals and 25 assists in 92 matches. Last year he had his best statistical campaign yet, with 16 goals and 13 assists in 32 games. Elite.
The problem is he hasn't gotten a ton of help in recent years. Saphir Taider chipped in seven goals and eight assists from the midfield last year in his debut campaign, but the club had a rotating door of center forwards. In 2019, Piatti has a new running mate in Maxi Urruti, who has 29 goals in the last three seasons. Can he help take a little more of the attacking burden off Piatti?
Also, the Impact sold Alejandro Silva and replaced him with Harry Novillo and Orji Okwonkwo. Can they equal what Silva delivered in 2018, or even improve upon it?
Quakes newcomers
While Almeyda's revolution wasn't a free-flowing one this offseason, he won't be without some new recruits. Marcos Lopez, Cristian Espinoza and Judson were the club's three big additions for 2019, all of whom are likely to make their debuts on Saturday.
Lopez, a highly-rated left-sided 19-year-old Peruvian international who can play in defense or midfield, was one of the under-the-radar signings of the offseason. Like Milton Valenzuela of the Columbus Crew SC last year, he could make his name in MLS before long. He figures to be Almeyda's first-choice left back in 2019.
Espinoza joined the club on loan from Villarreal. The 23-year-old Argentinian winger never really got his career underway in Spain, but can regain the form that convinced the La Liga side to spend a reported $8 million for him in 2016.
A Brazilian defensive midfielder, Judson looks to solidify the middle of the field for Almeyda.
