Seeking to snap their four-game winless run and move from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, DC United play host to CF Montreal at the Audi Field Stadium on Saturday.
The visitors, on the other hand, head into the weekend fresh off the back of ending their two-game losing streak and will look to build on that result.
Match preview
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Wayne Rooney's DC United were on the receiving end of a 6-2 thrashing against German champions Bayern Munich when the sides squared off in a friendly fixture on Thursday.
They now turn their sights to the MLS, where they were last in action last Sunday when they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Minnesota United away from home.
In that encounter, former Boca Juniors man Emanuel Reynoso turned in a performance of the highest quality as he scored in either half to hand the Loons all three points.
DC United head into the weekend winless in each of their last four games across all competitions, while they have managed just one win from their last 10 outings in the MLS.
Their underwhelming run of results sees the Black-and-Red rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings after picking up 18 points from 19 games so far.
This has been in no small part owing to their struggles at the defensive end of the pitch, a key area that Rooney needs to tinker sooner rather than later as DC United hold the conference's worst defensive record with 41 goals conceded.
On the other hand, CF Montreal returned to winning ways last Sunday when they claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Toronto FC at the Saputo Stadium.
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In a game where Kamal Miller received his marching orders, Lukas MacNaughton inadvertently turned the ball into his side's net in the 69th minute to hand the hosts all three points.
Prior to that, Wilfried Nancy's side saw their two-game winning streak come to an end on July 5 when they were thrashed 4-0 by LA Galaxy before suffering a 2-1 home defeat against Sporting Kansas City five days later.
With 32 points from 20 games, CF Montreal are currently fourth in the conference standings, seven points off first-placed Philadelphia Union, albeit with one game in hand.
While Le CFMTL will be looking to pick up a second straight victory and strengthen their position in the upper echelons of the table, they have struggled to get going on the road, where they have lost three of their last four games in all competitions.
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Team News
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DC United will be without the services of Brad Smith, who is set to sit out his fourth straight game after picking up a knee problem against Philadelphia Union on July 9.
Twenty-six-year-old forward Adrien Perez has been out of action since sustaining a foot injury in March and will play no part in this weekend's encounter.
Despite the Black-and-Red's underwhelming campaign, Taxiarchis Fountas has been a standout performer, netting 10 goals in 12 appearances this season and the 26-year-old will be one to keep an eye out for.
Montreal, on the other hand, will take to the pitch without Kamal Miller, who is currently suspended after receiving his marching orders against Toronto FC last time out.
On the injury front, Le CFMT will have to cope without the attacking duo of Tomas Giraldo and Bjorn Johnsen, who are recuperating from hamstring and foot injuries respectively.
DC United possible starting lineup:
Romo; Najar, Birnbaum, Hines-Ike, Guediri; Skundrich, Durkin; Hopkins, Smith, Djeffal; Estrada
CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Pantemis; Camacho, Waterman, Corbo, Johnston; Wanyama; Piette, Lappalainen; Miljevic, Kamara, Quioto
We say: DC United 1-2 CF Montreal
DC United have struggled to hit their stride this season, managing just one win from their opening six games. Meanwhile, off the back of their victory over Toronto FC, Montreal will head into the weekend with renewed confidence as they continue to surge up the table. We predict an end-to-end affair with Nancy's men claiming all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joshua Ojele
