Preview: Toronto vs CF Montreal - prediction, team news, lineups

The final Canadian Classique of the 2025 MLS campaign takes place on Saturday as Toronto return to BMO Field for a date with CF Montreal.

Both teams are well back of the Eastern Conference playoffs positions, with the Reds in 12th after a 0-0 draw versus Atlanta United, putting them just one point above Montreal, who came away with a 3-2 win at home to Austin FC last time out.

Match preview

While they have yet to lose a match this month, Toronto have not shown the kind of urgency you might expect from a team seeking to end a four-year post-season drought.

Barring a dramatic turn of events, 2025 will be the fifth consecutive time they miss the playoffs, with Robin Fraser’s men currently 15 points below that line and only seven matches remaining.

The Reds can stretch their MLS unbeaten run to four matches this weekend, equalling the team's longest run without a defeat in this competition since 2023 (seven games).

Only three of their remaining regular-season affairs take place at BMO Field, where they have gone unbeaten in their last three encounters.

By winning two of their final three matches in Toronto, they would avoid equalling the 2012 club record for fewest home triumphs in the regular season (three).

TFC have won their previous three MLS affairs against Montreal by a combined margin of 12-2, including a 5-1 win in this exact fixture last year.

It is not likely to change their playoff fortunes, but CF Montreal are finally showing some consistency domestically after a dreadful start to the campaign.

Heading into the final contest of August, Le CFM are on a four-match domestic unbeaten run and can move up to 12th in the Eastern Conference with a victory this weekend.

With only six regular-season games to go, there is still a mathematical chance for them to make the post-season, though they must win each of their remaining league contests and hope the sides above them slip up on numerous occasions.

A victory for them this weekend would be their fourth domestically in 2025, surpassing their away total in this competition from a year ago (three).

Marco Donadel is making a strong case to become the full-time head coach next season, with the Italian collecting 22 of their 23 points this season since taking over for Laurent Courtois in March, while suffering five defeats by a single goal.

Their last regular-season triumph against Toronto took place in 2023 (3-2), though Le CFM eliminated them at BMO Field in the Canadian Championships this year, coming from a goal down twice to earn a 2-2 draw in normal time, before advancing on penalties (3-2).

Toronto Major League Soccer form:

CF Montreal Major League Soccer form:

CF Montreal form (all competitions):

Team News

Three Toronto players were sidelined yet again with lower-body issues last Saturday, with Henry Wingo, Zane Monlouis and Nicksoen Gomis all sitting out for that reason.

Sean Johnson was back between the sticks for a second successive game in place of Luka Gavran, making one save for his first clean sheet since July 16th against San Diego (1-0 win).

Lower body injuries have also been a problem for Le CFM, with Giacomo Vrioni and Fabian Herbers sitting out on Saturday because of this, while Samuel Piette and Kwadwo Opoku were sidelined with lower body strains and Jalen Neal was unavailable due to a case of appendicitis.

Hennadiy Synchuk got them on the board against Austin after only nine minutes, while Dante Sealy and Prince Osei Owusu added goals themselves, enabling them to hang on.

Toronto possible starting lineup:

Johnson; Franklin, Thompson, Rosted, Laryea; Corbeanu, Dominguez, Coello, Osorio; Mihailovic; Kerr

CF Montreal possible starting lineup:

Gillier; Bugaj, Morales, Craig, Petrasso; Loturi, Longstaff; Synchuk, Duke, Sealy; Owusu

We say: Toronto 1-2 CF Montreal

Montreal have played with much more desire and determination despite their record, and the likes of Owusu and Matty Longstaff will be intent on showing the home team they made a mistake by letting them go.

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