Preview: Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal - prediction, team news, lineups

Last weekend, the Herons smashed arch-rivals Orlando City 5-0, while Montreal picked up their first victory of the domestic campaign, defeating Dallas 2-1.

Match preview

After a subpar performance against the Galaxy in late February, Miami showed why they are the team to beat in MLS last Saturday, scoring early and often in what was their largest margin of victory in club history.

Before that match was 30 minutes old, Tata Martino's men were already three goals to the good and they have yet to concede a goal at Chase Field in two regular-season affairs.

With another victory this weekend, the side from Fort Lauderdale would not only maintain their first-place standing in MLS but it would also mark the first time they will have triumphed in three successive MLS home fixtures since the 2022 campaign (four).

Miami are unbeaten in their last four regular-season encounters in which they scored in the opening half since suffering a 5-2 defeat versus Atlanta United in September of last season.

That was also the last time they lost a match in this competition when netting multiple times, though they are unbeaten in eight successive domestic fixtures when doing so.

Their only two MLS victories versus Le CFM took place in Fort Lauderdale, with the previous one occurring in their 2023 season opener (2-0).

Returning to their 2022 tactics has worked wonders early on for CF Montreal, who are unbeaten in their opening two MLS affairs for the first time since that aforementioned year.

Laurent Courtois collected his first victory as an MLS head coach last weekend, with Le CFM ending a four-match MLS winless run in the process.

Montreal have perhaps the toughest opening to the season of any MLS side in 2024, having to play another four domestic contests away from home.

Le CFM are winless in their last three regular-season visits to the Sunshine State, failing to score in any of those encounters versus Miami or Orlando City.

In just two matches this season, they have conceded just a single goal, which is five fewer than this team allowed in their final two league fixtures a year ago.

The last time they came away with all three points in Florida was at the end of the 2022 regular season at Inter Miami (3-1), with their only other away victory against them occurring in 2021 (2-0).

Inter Miami Major League Soccer form:

Inter Miami form (all competitions):

CF Montreal Major League Soccer form:

Team News

Robbie Robinson could miss this match for the Herons due to a knock, Franco Negri has a right ACL issue, Ian Fray and Facundo Farias are dealing with left ACL problems and Benjamin Cremaschi is recovering from sports hernia surgery.

On Monday, Miami traded DeAndre Yedlin to FC Cincinnati in exchange for General Allocation Money (GAM), while Jean Mota was recently transferred to Vitoria in the Brazilian top flight.

Lionel Messi notched a brace against the Lions last Saturday, drawing even with Christian Benteke in the Golden Boot race, Luis Suarez collected his first two goals in MLS, Robert Taylor scored his second of the season and Drake Callender made three stops for his second successive clean sheet at home.

Joaquin Sosa will be questionable for Montreal this weekend because of a lower leg injury, while Dominik Yankov might also be sidelined due to a thigh strain.

Robert Thorkelsson has yet to feature in 2023 because of a groin problem and Lassi Lappalainen is still recovering from an ankle injury.

Jules-Anthony Vilsaint netted the first goal of the season for Le CFM last Saturday, while former Miami striker Josef Martinez notched the winner, his first for his new club, and his 27th all-time in MLS, drawing even with Dwayne De Rosario for the second-most in league history.

Inter Miami possible starting lineup:

Callender; Sailor, Aviles, Freire, Alba; Gressel, Busquets, Gomez; Messi, Suarez, Taylor

CF Montreal possible starting lineup:

Sirois; Campbell, Waterman, Corbo; Ruan, Choiniere, Piette, Lassiter; Ibrahim, Duke; Coccaro

We say: Inter Miami 1-1 CF Montreal

While the Herons have a vastly more experienced side in big games, at times, their age has been their enemy, and that could enable Montreal to earn a point, seeing as the Herons played in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Thursday.

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