The top two teams in the Eastern Conference at the end of the previous regular season will square off for the first time in 2023, as CF Montreal host the Philadelphia Union in their home opener at Olympic Stadium on Saturday.
Montreal are 0-3 to begin the new MLS campaign, falling 2-0 at Nashville SC a week ago, while the Union scored late to defeat the Chicago Fire 1-0, improving to 2-1 on the season.
Match preview
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When he arrived in Montreal to replace Wilfried Nancy, Hernan Losada promised more verticality and quality within the squad.
After three matches, we have yet to see the latter, as the third-highest-scoring team in the Eastern Conference during the 2022 regular-season are without a goal this year.
With their defeat in the Music City last Saturday, Montreal became just the fifth club in MLS history to record no points or goals in the opening three matches of a regular-season campaign.
While that is not particularly encouraging, this team still have a reason for optimism seeing as the last two clubs to be in their current position (the Seattle Sounders in 2018 and New York City FC in 2020) both went on to make the playoffs despite 0-3 starts.
Losada's side have had their share of possession to this point of the campaign but have not been able to do much with it, failing to register a single effort on target against the Boys in Gold.
They have not won a home fixture against the Union since 2019, though they earned at least a point in 12 of their 17 regular season encounters a year ago in Montreal.
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It was not the most convincing performance from the reigning Eastern Conference champions a week ago, but ultimately, they found a way, thanks in part to some poor goalkeeping from Chris Brady of the Fire, who mishandled a weak long-range effort, enabling the Union to escape with all three points.
On Tuesday, though, we saw the dominant side that terrorised MLS opponents throughout most of 2022, with Philadelphia defeating Alianza 4-0, advancing to the next round of the CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) by that score.
Winning in that manner is what we saw them do many times in 2022, capturing six of their regular-season affairs by a margin of four goals or more.
That kind of potency, however, has not been quite as evident when the Union hit the road, as Jim Curtin's men have failed to score in three consecutive regular-season encounters away from home, including a 2-0 defeat at Inter Miami at the beginning of March.
Saturday will be the first time that Philadelphia pay a visit to Olympic Stadium, with the Union unbeaten in their last three trips to la Belle Province.
After giving up two goals in their second match of the year against the Herons, the Union have not conceded in their last three games in all competitions, conceding two efforts or fewer on target over that stretch.
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Team News
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CF Montreal will be without Jojea Kwizera because of a hamstring strain, James Pantemis remains sidelined with a shoulder issue, Matko Miljevic has a sore knee and George Campbell is out with an ankle injury.
Rudy Camacho earned his 110th MLS start with Montreal in their loss to Nashville, Zachary Brault-Guillard collected his 100th cap for the club in all competitions and Samuel Piette was officially named team captain this week.
Lassi Lappalainen had the only goal for them in their previous home game versus Philly, while Romell Quioto set up the equaliser from former striker Kei Kamara when they drew the Union 1-1 on the road last season.
Philly goalkeeper Andre Blake left their game versus Chicago with a groin strain, but scans this week revealed no muscle tear, though Joe Bendik replaced him on Tuesday in their CCL clash, stopping one Alianza shot for the clean sheet.
Andres Perea notched a brace in the latter stages of that match, Daniel Gazdag scored from the penalty spot and Damion Lowe picked up his first as a member of the Union since joining them from Inter Miami.
Former Montreal winger Joaquin Torres had the only goal for Philly in their triumph against the Fire, with Curtin employing the same starting 11 in all three of their domestic encounters thus far.
CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Sirois; Waterman, Camacho, Miller; Herrera, Piette, Wanyama, Lappalainen; Rea; Quioto, Toye
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Bendik; Mbaizo, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner; Martinez; Flach, Bedoya; Gazdag; Uhre, Carranza
We say: CF Montreal 0-1 Philadelphia Union
Even with little time to rest for this encounter, we do not expect the Union backline to have much trouble containing a Montreal side still struggling to make that decisive final pass.
Philadelphia were the top defensive unit in the league last season for a reason, they are experienced and well-organised at the back, while we believe there will be too many attacking weapons for the home team to handle this weekend.
How to watch
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
