On Saturday night, two former German stars will face off when the Vancouver Whitecaps play against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Vancouver’s Thomas Muller and San Jose’s Timo Werner were teammates on Germany’s 2018 World Cup team, appearing in 23 matches together.
Muller, 36, has 45 goals, ranking sixth in German history, and leads with 41 assists in 131 matches. Werner, 30, scored 24 goals in 57 appearances for the national team.
Muller joined Vancouver late last season, netting seven goals in just seven matches and helping the Whitecaps reach the MLS title match, where they lost to Inter Miami.
Werner joined the Earthquakes at the start of this season after San Jose coach Bruce Arena made multiple trips to Germany to recruit him.
Werner has contributed two assists in three matches.
“He said, ‘You are the top player, and I want to win something with you,’” Werner shared. “That gave me a good feeling from the start.”
The Earthquakes, with a record of 3-1-0 and 9 points, face the challenge of competing against the unbeaten Whitecaps, who are 4-0-0 with 12 points.
The Whitecaps have dominated their four MLS opponents, outscoring them 14-1. Striker Brian White is tied for the league lead with five goals, while Sebastian Berhalter has two goals and four assists, matching the league’s top mark. Muller has also scored twice.
Whitecaps coach Jesper Sorensen noted the team’s commitment to their goals. “This group always looks forward to the challenges ahead of them,” he said.
Last Sunday, Vancouver defeated Minnesota United 6-0, with White scoring two goals.
However, the team faced a setback on Wednesday, getting eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup by the Seattle Sounders, losing 5-1 on aggregate.
The Earthquakes started the season strong, winning their first three matches before losing 1-0 to the Sounders last Sunday.
This loss ended their 23-match streak of scoring in MLS games. The Earthquakes had held a 290-minute streak without conceding a goal until Paul Rothrock from Seattle scored in the 20th minute.
Arena expressed frustration over missed opportunities. “We had 17 corner kicks; we should have been more dangerous,” he stated.
Last season, the Whitecaps and Earthquakes split their two matches, with each home team winning.
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