LA Galaxy open 2018 MLS season vs. Portland Timbers at StubHub Center

Mark your calendars, ladies and gentleman.

The LA Galaxy will officially open the 2018 Major League Soccer season 7 p.m. Sunday March 4th at the StubHub Center vs. Landon Donovan MVP Diego Valeri and the Portland Timbers. The match will also serve as the managerial debut for new Timbers manager Giovanni Savarese.

During the 2018 MLS regular season, each club will play 34 games, including 17 home games and 17 away games. Teams will face each of their conference opponents (10 in the East, 11 in the West) twice during the season with one game at home and one game away. Western Conference teams will play one additional intra-conference game and Eastern Conference teams will play two. All teams will face each non-conference opponent once.

If the idea of a home opener vs. Portland fills you with dread, its because LA were dominated by the Timbers in their home debut last season, giving up an early Valeri goal before a 34th minute Jelle Van Damme sealed the Galaxy’s fate. However, Portland will be without at least two influential pieces: Skillful midfielder and fan favorite Darlington Nagbe was traded to Atlanta United, and longtime manager Caleb Porter has also left the club.