David Villa is on fire ... but so is FC Dallas

David Villa is on fire ... but so is FC Dallas

If you like beautiful soccer, you probably mourn the fact that these teams meet just once a year, barring a potential MLS Cup clash, of course. No matter, the rarity of the matchup – this is just the third all-time – makes Sunday's Week 11 finale on FS1 and Fox Deportes a real treat.

You've got the defending Supporters' Shield champions (FC Dallas) hosting the defending Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player (David Villa). You've got Oscar Pareja, 2016's Coach of the Year and leader of a team-building project that's the envy of the rest of the MLS, strategizing against Patrick Vieira, who has transformed NYCFC into a possession and chance-creating machine in a little more than a year. In short, you've got two of MLS's best all-around teams using each other as an early season measuring stick.

What's not to like?

No Mauro Diaz, no problem. Two months into the 2017 season, FC Dallas are the only remaining unbeaten team in MLS, and they don't look even a step slow without their Argentine No. 10, who recently returned to the practice field much to the delight of the Frisco faithful.

They've kept their standards sky high by committee, with a cadre of understated stars sharing the load. Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman are arguably the best center-back tandem in the league (both protecting Jesse Gonzalez in goal and attacking the occasional set piece), Kellyn Acosta and Carlos Gruezo are the future of the US and Ecuadorian national teams in the center of the park and Maxi Urruti, with six goals already, looks like the sort of go-to striker who can carry the club to MLS Cup. Oh, and Pareja as quality (and depth) on the wings, back to front.

To say FC Dallas is the best team in MLS is probably just stating the obvious at this point. Should they handle business against NYCFC, their only real competition for that tag will be Toronto FC.

Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): GK: Jesse Gonzalez - Hernan Grana, Walker Zimmerman, Matt Hedges, Maynor Figueroa - Carlos Gruezo, Kellyn Acosta - Michael Barrios, Javier Morales, Roland Lamah - Maxi Urruti

Notes: FC Dallas is now unbeaten in 13 consecutive MLS games (7W-6D). They have kept clean sheets in seven of those matches and allowed multiple goals in only two of them (eight total goals conceded). ... Maxi Urruti’s brace for FC Dallas was his second in 2017, and his third of his MLS career (104 regular season appearances, 30 goals).

David Villa is like a fine wine. Once you get a taste, you might just guzzle the entire bottle. Look, this is my analogy. As Villa embarks on his third season in MLS, it's clear his vintage puts him among the best players in league history. The man just scores goals – and he's happy to set his teammates up in the process, too. Just watch the Spaniard work with offseason signing Rodney Wallace. It's a thing of beauty.

But it's not Villa who is the big-money question mark in NYCFC's XI right now. That'd be Andrea Pirlo, who has been an unused substitute the past two games. Is the Italian legend's time as a starter over in the Big Apple? Well, that depends, mostly on how much defensive bite Vieira feels he needs in midfield. Against FC Dallas, it's very possible Pirlo could make it three DNPs in three games.

Projected Starting XI (4-3-3, left to right): Sean Johnson — Ben Sweat, Alexander Callens, Maxime Chanot, Ethan White — Maxi Moralez, Alex Ring, Yangel Herrera — Rodney Wallace, David Villa, Jack Harrison