DC Unitedvs.Montreal

On matchday three last weekend, the Black and Red came back to claim a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City, while Le CFM were beaten 2-0 by the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Match preview

DC have been down but not out in recent games, with Troy Lesesne's men following up a 2-2 comeback draw against the Chicago Fire with a come-from-behind victory last Saturday.

That triumph ended a five-match regular-season winless run for them at Audi Field, as they won at home for the first time since July 2024 (2-1 win over Nashville SC).

They have not blown away the competition this season, but DC are one of just four Eastern Conference sides without a defeat thus far.

On Saturday, they have a chance to go unbeaten in their first four MLS fixtures for the first time since 2019, which was the last time they made the playoffs.

Winning once at home can be rare for this team, but doing it on consecutive occasions even more so, with DC's last two-game MLS home winning streak occurring in September 2021 (two).

DC United have not lost a regular-season home contest against a Canadian opponent since Montreal beat them 2-1 in July 2022.

A youthful Montreal squad have been through a trial by fire this year, and at the moment, they are the ones getting burned, with three consecutive defeats to begin the campaign.

Laurent Courtois' side are the only ones without a single point in league play thus far, and it will only get harder for them with four more matches to be played away from home.

Dating back to the 2024 regular season, Le CFM have lost their previous four away matches in this competition, but have never begun an MLS campaign with four successive defeats.

If they fail to score on Saturday, they will extend their goalless drought to three matches, their longest run without a goal in this competition since June to July 2023 (four).

Montreal have lost their last three MLS affairs when trailing at the half and have not won in that situation since a 4-2 victory at home to the Philadelphia Union last June.

Le CFM have points in two of their previous three visits to Audi Field but have won just one of their last five regular-season games played against them in MLS (4-2 at Saputo Stadium in 2024).

DC United Major League Soccer form:

CF Montreal Major League Soccer form:

Team News

In their victory over Sporting KC, DC United were without Randall Leal due to a sore thigh, Hakim Karamoko sat out with an abdomen issue, Jackson Hopkins was sidelined with an ankle problem and Conner Antley did not feature because of a knee injury.

One of their big off-season signings, Joao Peglow made his regular-season debut for DC, while former Montreal midfielder Rida Zouhir is still seeking his first start for his new team, with the Canadian being an unused substitute last weekend.

Christian Benteke converted a penalty on the hour mark against KC, with Hosei Kijima scoring the winner eight minutes later, his first as a member of the Black and Red.

Lower body injuries kept Hennadiy Synchuk and Samuel Piette out of the Montreal fold last week, George Campbell and Giacomo Vrioni were sidelined with groin strains, while Jalen Neal was recovering from a knee issue.

We saw Brandan Craig and Alexsandr Guboglo make their debuts for Le CFM, with the latter becoming the club's youngest-ever academy product (17 years 353 days) to start an MLS fixture.

Prince Owusu and Luca Petrasso both earned their 40th MLS caps in that defeat, while Kwadwo Opoku played in his 90th league game, 30 of which have come with Montreal.

DC United possible starting lineup:

Jun-hong; Herrera, Bartlett, Rowles, Schnegg; Kijima, Enow; Badji, Pirani, Peglow; Benteke

CF Montreal possible starting lineup:

Sirois; Craig, Waterman, Petrasso; Marshall-Rutty, Saliba, Herbers, Pearce; Opoku, Owusu, Clark

We say: DC United 1-2 CF Montreal

Even an inexperienced side like Montreal should be able to find a way through a DC backline that leave far too many gaps, and we believe that will cost them this weekend.

Written by

Joel Lefevre

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