Editorial (July 19, 2018) – The 2018 MLS season is on fire right now. Atlanta United FC leads the way in the Eastern Conference with 41 points while FC Dallas tops the Western Conference with 38 points.
The 2018 playoffs are closing it, but there’s more ahead than just the postseason.
The MLS All-Star squad will face off against Juventus, the team that has topped the news recently because of Cristiano Ronaldo transfer signing. The meeting will be on August 1 and the MLS roster has chances to make an impact against one of the best world-class teams.
Why it is important for the MLS All-Star Team to beat Juventus F.C.
MLS can prove that American and Canadian professional soccer is at a higher level than ever before, so they will have a superb opportunity to show up against the Italian giants.
It will be an international friendly, but a victory can say a lot about the level of the league. If Juventus wins by a wide margin, no one will take MLS seriously considering the best players of the season will be playing at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in Atlanta.
On the other hand, Ronaldo will start his new challenge in the U.S., and by his side, there are one of the most fearest strikers on the planet.
Here’s a look at the MLS All-Stars roster:
Goalkeeper: Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC), Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC).
Defenders: Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City), Michael Parkhurst (Atlanta United FC), Michael Amir Murillo (New York Red Bulls), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Laurent Ciman (Los Angeles Football Club), Francisco Calvo (Minnesota United FC).
Midfielders: Wilfried Zahibo (New England Revolution), Yoshi Yotun (Orlando City SC), Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers), Ilie Sanchez (Sporting Kansas City), Alexander Ring (New York City FC), Ignacio Piatti (Montreal Impact), Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy), Alphonso Davies (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Ezequiel Barco (Atlanta United FC), Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United FC).
Forwards: Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls), David Villa (New York City FC), Carlos Vela (Los Angeles Football Club), Josef Martinez (Atlanta United FC), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (LA Galaxy), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC).
Head Coach: Gerardo “Tata” Martínez
In this list, there’s the league goalscoring leader, Josef Martínez, who has netted 19 goals and is on his way to break an MLS season record.
The Swedish Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the Spaniard David Villa can turn this squad into an offensive machine.
Projected starting line-up: Steffen; Zusi, Hedge, Ciman, Calvo; Piatti, Almiron, Villa, Vela; Martínez, Ibrahimovic
Italian Power
Juventus has won the last seven Serie A league titles, now with Ronaldo, they only can become more dominants. The Bianconeri team will begin their preseason in the US, and what a great way to begin a new era facing off the MLS best players.
Maybe not all of the best players in Juve’s roster take the pitch that day, though, the fans are waiting for Ronaldo big debut in his new home.
Moreover, there are other great names to watch, like Paulo Dybala, Douglas Costa, Miralem Pjanic and Juan Guillermo Cuadrado.
This game might be a harmless match up. but the MLS has to win in order to avoid negative comments about the league.
Juve probably starting XI: Wojciech Szczęsny; Alex Sandro, Giorgio Chiellini, Medhi Benatia, Joao Cancelo; Miralem Pjanic, Sami Khedira, Emre Can; Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, Cristiano Ronaldo.
