On Sunday night, the Vancouver Whitecaps return to BC Place stadium to take on Houston Dynamo, in a game that promises to be an historic affair as German legend Thomas Müller is poised to make his MLS debut.

We’ll start with the main story of the night, as Müller’s announcement has certainly captured the imaginations of the Vancouver soccer scene.

To seasoned football fans this man needs no introduction. His record of two Champions Leagues, a World Cup and a World Cup Golden Boot alongside 13 Bundesliga titles speaks for itself, and he will be the most famous player ever to grace the Whitecaps jersey.

Beyond his historical record, Müller also produced a solid season for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga last season, and he will hopefully have a significant impact on the field. Although Caleb has already produced a piece highlighting his talents, if he can bring his ability and his hunger for trophies to Vancouver, then he may be set to play a pivotal role as the Whitecaps go on their quest for the MLS Cup.

How is Thomas Muller Going to Work?

If his greeting at Vancouver International Airport on Wednesday is anything to go by, then BC Place will be rocking on Sunday to welcome him, which will hopefully inspire the Whitecaps to produce a scintillating display.

Müller is not the only new face in Vancouver, as Peruvian attacker Kenji Cabrera may also be about to make his MLS debut in this encounter after appearing from the bench in the 2-2 draw midweek against Forge FC.

Of course, the Whitecaps were enjoying a successful season before their new signings arrived, and the important contributions of other players cannot be forgotten or undermined after the arrival of a superstar.

In terms of team news, when researching for this article I have seen many conflicting reports about the return of talisman Ryan Gauld. Although I can’t be certain when he will return, hopefully it’s soon to give him time to establish a relationship with Müller and get up to full speed ahead of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Edier Ocampo has seen his red card rescinded, so he will not be suspended after that sensational refereeing performance from Tim Ford against San Jose (I’ll leave my comments on that game there because I don’t want to get a 6-match writing ban), whilst Ali Ahmed will once again miss out as he nears a return from injury. Andres Cubas missed the midweek trip to Hamilton, but hopefully that is just a precautionary measure as having the Paraguayan fully fit is integral for Jesper Sørensen’s side.

Turning over to Houston, as their poor run of form continued over the Leagues Cup campaign and then into the return of MLS action.

In the return fixture a month ago, Vancouver out-muscled the Dynamo on their way to a convincing 3-0 victory, and Houston have not enjoyed much fortune since as they are in the midst of a 7-match winless run. Although that includes an impressive 1-1 draw at Eastern Conference and Supporters Shield leaders Philadelphia Union, it also features a dire Leagues Cup campaign that left them rock bottom after losing all three games.

Ezequiel Ponce will be the main danger-man for Vancouver to watch out for, as he is the Dynamo’s top scorer with seven goals this season. He will be supplied with opportunities by Jack McGlynn, who joined from Philadelphia Union in the offseason in one of the first cash-for-player trades in MLS history and has proven to be a bright spark in a disappointing Houston campaign.

However, defensively the Dynamo have disappointed this season. They have shipped 41 goals, a record that is only better than seven MLS sides. Although they have attempted to rectify this with the arrival of former Orlando City and Fluminense centreback Antônio Carlos, the Whitecaps know they will get opportunities against this Houston team, they just have to be clinical and take them.

Having suffered two frustrating displays since their return to action, Vancouver will be desperate to capitalise on a raucous home crowd to earn a return to winning ways.

I predict that they will do so, and we’ll see Müller introduced to a tremendous reception en route to an impressive 3-1 win.