Preview: CF Montreal vs. Columbus Crew - prediction, team news, lineups

CF Montreal take on Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference of MLS on Saturday, with the hosts looking to remain top of the table after a promising start to the season.

Columbus Crew, meanwhile, are looking to defend their MLS Championship title having won the playoffs last year.

Match preview

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Montreal have never won the MLS since being inducted into the competition in 2012, with their best efforts so far representing a semi-final appearance in 2015.

However, having appointed Wilfried Nancy as manager last month, the early signs suggest they may have a team to seriously compete this time around after a disappointing spell under Thierry Henry came to an end in February, with one win and one draw taking them to the top of the Eastern Conference table.

Both matches were thoroughly entertaining, too, with designated players Djordje Mihailovic and former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama both scoring in a 4-2 win over Canadian rivals Toronto FC on the opening day, before Nancy's side blew a two-goal lead against Nashville SC.

As such, Nancy's priority will almost certainly be tightening up his defence without dramatically reducing their attacking threat, with MLS champions Columbus Crew sure to test their rearguard on multiple occasions on Saturday.

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Due to competing in the CONCACAF Champions League as a result of winning the MLS Championship last season, Columbus Crew have only played one league game so far this season.

It was an uneventful one, too, with Caleb Porter's side playing out a goalless draw with Philadelphia Union. Both sides had similar possession and shot counts, so a share of the spoils was probably a fair outcome in the end.

Columbus Crew are aiming to join an exclusive club of teams who have retained the title, with only DC United, Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy having achieved this feat in MLS history.

Porter has recruited MLS legend Bradley Wright-Phillips, who has scored 136 goals in 264 appearances for American sides since joining New York Red Bulls in 2013, in order to help them scale new heights.

The former Southampton forward got off the mark with a late winner against Real Esteli recently, and will be desperate to score his first league goal for the club on Saturday.

Team News

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Montreal will remain without Mathieu Choiniere, Lassi Lappalainen and Luis Binks due to injury.

Nancy may look to bring Joel Waterman back into his defence, but otherwise is unlikely to make any changes to the XI which drew against Nashville.

Columbus Crew, meanwhile, are likely to travel without Vito Wormgoor, Darlington Nagbe, Kevin Molino, Marlon Hairston, Evan Bush and Aidan Morris due to injury.

Derrick Etienne made his comeback from the bench in the draw against Philadelphia so will be hoping to be involved again, while Wright-Phillips could be in line for his first league start for the club.

However, Porter has a short turnaround to consider after his side's 2-2 draw against Monterrey in their CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, so may look to heavily rotate ahead of the second leg next week.

CF Montreal possible starting lineup:

Diop; Waterman, Camacho, Miller; Brault-Guillard, Piette, Wanyama, Kizza; Mihailovic; Quioto, Toye

Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:

Room; Afful, Jonathan, Williams, Valenzuela; Artur, Kitchen; Espinoza, Zelarayan, Santos; Zardes

We say: CF Montreal 2-1 Columbus Crew

Ordinarily we would make the visitors favourites here, but given their congested schedule, their priorities may lie elsewhere.

Montreal have certainly not looked shy of goals so far this season and, as such, they could punish a potentially fatigued and under-strength Columbus Crew defence.