With the entire 2017 MLS schedule out, here is a look at the 5 most anticipated games of the Seattle Sounders’ title defending season.

It feels like just yesterday the Seattle Sounders were lifting their first ever MLS Cup after defeating Toronto FC in penalties at BMO field. But long offseasons mean quick turnarounds so with the 2017 MLS schedule out and the first game in less than 2 months, here are the top 5 matchups of the Sounders‘ 2017 season:

April 14th at Vancouver Whitecaps

The first Sounders’ Cascadia match of the 2017 MLS Season will be played in Vancouver. The current holders of the Cascadia trophy will look to take Seattle off their perch as the current MLS Cup Champions. Though there isn’t as much hatred involved in a match between these two sides as there is with Sounders-Timbers games, these sides still do not like each other.

April 23rd at LA Galaxy

Over the years, the Sounders and LA Galaxy have started forming quite a rivalry between the two sides, last season being no exception-especially after Seattle’s 4-2 win over the Galaxy in Carson City, the first time the Rave Green had won there in a number of years. This will be the first of three meetings between the two sides this season.

May 6th vs. Toronto FC

TFC will be traveling to CenturyLink Field for a rematch of the MLS Cup final. Toronto will be looking for some revenge after being beaten on home turf when they were arguably the better team. Seattle, on the otherhand, will be looking to show that they were the rightful winners of the MLS Cup and Sounders fans will be coming out in full force. This game will be televised on ESPN and it is one no MLS fan will want to miss.

May 27th vs. Portland Timbers

It is no secret that these two teams hate each other. This will be the opening fixture of the biggest rivalry in MLS history and now that both teams have a star above their crest, the two teams will have to prove who the better team is on the field. This game will be hosted in Seattle but you can count on a huge crowd of away supporters making their way up I-5 to be there.

October 22nd vs. Colorado Rapids

One of the most amazing turnarounds in MLS history saw the Colorado Rapids go from dead last in the Western Conference in 2015 to a Western Conference Final exit in 2016 all while boasting the best defense in the league, going undefeated at home in the regular season. This will be the last regular season game for both of these sides and could play be huge in deciding where these teams will place and what seed they will get going into the playoffs.

Though these are, in our opinion, the five biggest games of the season for the Seattle Sounders, there are so many games that will be played that could end up being just as important, if not more.

Did we miss any games that should have been in the top five? Let us know in the comments below.

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