Preview: CF Montreal vs. Philadelphia Union - prediction, team news, lineups

CF Montreal continue to search for that elusive first win in the 2025 MLS campaign when they host the Philadelphia Union on Saturday at Saputo Stadium.

Last weekend, Le CFM suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at the New York Red Bulls, remaining bottom of the Eastern Conference table, with the Union sitting third after a 3-0 triumph over DC United.

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Match preview

Their games have been much closer recently, but CF Montreal continue to fall just short of that first league victory of the new campaign.

Two of their three points in MLS this year have come under interim manager Marco Donadel, while their three defeats since his appointment were all by a single goal.

The Italian coach has yet to solve the team's goalscoring woes, with Le CFM failing to find the back of the net in three successive domestic contests.

Montreal have picked up just a single point in MLS this year at Saputo Stadium, scoring just one goal in those two encounters.

They have won only one of their previous seven league fixtures played in May, though they prevailed in their last one in 2024 at home to DC United (4-2).

That said, Montreal have won their previous two MLS home contests versus the Union, claiming points in three of their last four meetings against them at Saputo Stadium.

After a slow start to April, Philadelphia caught fire in the attacking third at the tail end of the month, putting them back near the top of the Eastern Conference table.

Bradley Carnell's men failed to score in their opening two league fixtures in April, claiming just one point over that stretch, but enter the month of May having won two in a row by a 3-0 margin each time.

The Philadelphia Union have lost their last two away games in this competition, scoring just a single goal over that stretch.

Heading into matchday 11, only two points separate them from FC Cincinnati for first in the East, while they have five more points (19) at this stage of the campaign than they had after 10 games in 2024.

In 2025, the Union have a 100% record domestically when scoring the opening goal, posting four shutout victories when doing so this year.

Saturday will be their first game of the season against a team from Canada, and they have lost their last five away matches played on Canadian soil dating back to 2022.

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Team News

Against the Red Bulls last week, Montreal were without Bryce Duke and Giacomo Vrioni, though the latter came on as a substitute Wednesday, scoring his first for the club as they defeated Toronto on penalties in the Canadian Championship.

Sebastian Breza made his first start of the MLS campaign last Saturday, replacing Jonathan Sirois between the sticks, and Owen Graham-Roache made his debut for the first team, replacing Prince Owusu in the second half.

The Union had one injury-related omission from their lineup last week, with Ian Glavinovich sitting out of that game with a sore knee.

Jakob Glesnes netted the winner for Philly against DC, while Danley Jean Jacques and Bruno Damiani scored their other goals on the day.

CF Montreal possible starting lineup: Breza; Bugaj, Campbell, Waterman, Petrasso; Piette, Loturi; Sealy, Clark, Yankov; Owusu

Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup: Blake; Westfield, Glesnes, Harriel, Wagner; C. Sullivan, Jacques, Bueno, Q. Sullivan; Baribo, Uhre

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We say: CF Montreal 2-1 Philadelphia Union

Montreal have been due for a win over the past few weeks and should be full of confidence following their victory at the Canadian Championship earlier this week.

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