In a matchup with huge playoff implications, CF Montreal and the Chicago Fire return to MLS action on Saturday when they square off at Saputo Stadium.
With five matches remaining, Le CFM are two points below the Eastern Conference playoff line following a 2-2 draw in midweek versus the New England Revolution, with the Fire four points back of a post-season berth after losing 1-0 to Nashville SC.
Match preview
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Down by two goals after 45 minutes, Laurent Courtois saw a desperate Montreal side claw their way back to earn a point Wednesday, just their sixth from a losing position in MLS this year.
To this stage of the season, Montreal have dropped 11 points in the league when scoring the opening goal, which could have them up to sixth in the Eastern Conference.
Three of their remaining five matches in this competition occur at Saputo Stadium, where this team have won five times domestically in 2024, four fewer than a season ago.
On Saturday, they have a chance to do something they have yet to do in this competition all year, win consecutive matches at Saputo Stadium
Given how poor this team have been defensively throughout the campaign, it is an achievement to be in the hunt for a post-season berth, conceding the most goals in the Eastern Conference (61).
Le CFM are undefeated in their last six domestic home fixtures versus the Fire, failing to concede in three successive home games against them.
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The playoff hopes for Chicago are fading after this team lost for the third time in their last four regular-season affairs on Wednesday.
With four matches remaining, former Montreal manager Frank Klopas has guided the Fire to 29 points, and they have five teams to overtake in their quest to make the playoffs.
Chicago are winless in three successive domestic encounters, winning just one of their previous seven matches in this competition (1-0 versus FC Cincinnati).
The Fire have claimed just two victories domestically in 2024, which, along with Montreal, is the joint-fewest in the Eastern Conference this year.
Nine times in MLS play this year, Chicago have failed to find the back of the net, three of which occurred away from home.
They have a 100% record versus Canadian opposition in the 2024 regular season, defeating Toronto in mid-June (4-1) and claiming a dramatic 4-3 victory at home to Montreal in March.
Team News
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Earlier this week, Montreal were missing Lassi Lappalainen due to a knock, Joel Waterman was sidelined after suffering an injury with Canada during the international window and Joaquin Sosa remains questionable because of muscle discomfort.
Despite scoring in their previous weekend fixture against Charlotte FC, Bryce Duke was an unused substitute on Wednesday, while Caden Clark, who also scored in that encounter, began on the bench against the Revs.
Tom Pearce scored his first career MLS goal on Wednesday, with the equaliser coming courtesy of Nathan-Dylan Saliba, his first of the regular season.
The Fire were without Andrew Gutman in their previous match, with an apparent leg issue, Rafael Czichos sat out due to a knock and Carlos Teran was sidelined because of a leg injury.
Mauricio Pineda remains doubtful as he is recovering from a leg injury, while Chase Gasper is still dealing with a hamstring strain.
Chris Brady made his 29th appearance between the sticks, one fewer than his career high in a single campaign, and Fabian Herbers can become the 13th player in club history to collect 150 caps for the Fire should he see the field this weekend.
CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Sirois; Campbell, Corbo, Alvarez; Marshall-Rutty, Piette, Saliba, Edwards; Clark, Opoku; Coccaro
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Souquet, Dean, Omsberg; Haile-Selassie, Herbers, Gimenez, Acosta; Lassiter, Mueller; Koutsias
We say: CF Montreal 2-1 Chicago Fire
While neither side have been all that convincing in recent outings, Montreal have shown a little more fighting spirit this month, while the Fire have not shown us much in recent outings.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
