Major League Soccer announced Thursday that the Houston Dynamo will open the 2020 season against Jonathan Dos Santos and the LA Galaxy at BBVA Stadium on Feb. 29.
The two teams will meet in EaDo again – 146 days after both teams closed the 2019 regular season at BBVA Stadium in a thrilling 4-2 finale with goals from Alberth Elis,Memo Rodriguez and a brace from Christian Ramirez.
Ramirez wants to carry that momentum into the next showdown with Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s squad and relishes at the opportunity to begin the season at BBVA Stadium.
“I think it’s good that we are starting at home, in front of our fans and hopefully build on the excitement that we ended the season with,” Ramirez told HoustonDynamo.com. “Especially playing the Galaxy again since we just played them. It’s good to start at home and have our fans behind us to build that excitement that hopefully will carry over.”
Defender Adam Lundkvist shared a similar sentiment and he also has his eyes on Houston’s first road opponent of the season – Sporting Kansas City.
“It’s very inspiring to start the season against two very strong opponents,” Lundkvist said. “Especially when you start the season with a rivalry game - that could be a huge confidence boost and also bring momentum going into a long season.”
Houston will open the 2020 season against two of the most successful clubs in the last decade. Additionally, the Dynamo have met both teams throughout the last 10 years in memorable playoff clashes for conference championships and the MLS Cup. That history carries over into a new decade and Ramirez looks to add a new chapter to the rivalry come next Spring.
“We want to start on the right foot this season and the following week we play Sporting Kansas City – we know that is a rivalry game for Houston and for them. That is one of the toughest places to play, especially for their home opener. It will be a good test for us right off the bat. Two good tests to start the season and we wouldn’t want it any other way.”
