The Seattle Sounders host Bundesliga powerhouse Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs. Here is everything you need to know about the international friendly:
MATCHDAY GUIDE
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on JOEtv and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air in Spanish on El Rey 1360 AM.
2019 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 10-5-5 (35 points, 2nd West), BVB: 23-7-4 (76 points, 2nd in Bundesliga)
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 3-6-4 all-time in international friendlies. The team’s most recent win came in a 3-0 fixture against West Ham United at CenturyLink Field in July 2016.
PREVIOUS MEETING: The last time the Rave Green hosted an international friendly, they fell 2-0 to Club Nacional of Uruguay in February. Seattle midfield maestro NicolĂ¡s Lodeiro took the pitch against his boyhood club, while Homegrown midfielder Danny Leyva made his CenturyLink Field debut in front of the Sounders supporters. Leyva, 16, has started two matches in MLS regular-season play and one in the U.S. Open Cup since then.
SOUNDERS VS. THE WORLD: Borussia Dortmund is just the latest international team with global brand recognition to face off against the Sounders at CenturyLink Field. Previous friendly opponents include the likes of FC Barcelona, Chelsea FC, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Boca Juniors.
GLOBAL STARS: Dortmund’s roster boasts present and future stars of the international game like Mario Götze, Jadon Sancho, Mats Hummels, Axel Witsel and Marco Reus.
BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN: After picking up three points against reigning MLS Cup champions Atlanta United on Sunday, the Sounders leapfrogged the LA Galaxy into second in the Western Conference. Seattle has now won three of its last four matches in MLS play.
DEMOCRACY IN ACTION: Sounders forward RaĂºl RuidĂaz is nominated for MLS Week 19 Goal of the Week for his incredible goal against Atlanta. You can vote for the Peruvian striker here.
PREPARING THE DEPTH: Now that the team’s host of internationals have returned from the Copa América and Gold Cup, there will be ample competition for MLS minutes down the stretch. Wednesday’s match against a top international club presents an opportunity for the team’s depth players to stake a claim for future inclusion.
NEW SIGNING: Seattle’s newest signing, Bheem Goyal, is a bright and active eight-year-old goalkeeper battling acute lymphocytic leukemia. He has joined the club for the international friendly on Wednesday.
#THEFUTURE: Sounders Homegrowns Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, 17, and Leyva, 16, could square off against their U.S. U-17 men’s national team teammate Gio Reyna, who recently joined Dortmund from New York City FC. The trio were among the top performers for the U.S. during World Cup qualifying.
