Nashvillevs.Montreal

The Boys in Gold handed the Philadelphia Union their first loss of the campaign last weekend, 3-1, while Le CFM collected their first point of 2025, playing to a 0-0 draw with DC United.

Match preview

A side that had been purely defensive throughout the early portion of the season, surprised everyone last Sunday, putting three past the Union, who were the top team in the East heading into that encounter.

BJ Callaghan's men have lost just one of their previous five regular-season affairs, winning their last two games by a combined margin of 5-1.

On Saturday, they can win three consecutive matches in this competition for the first time since May to June of the 2023 campaign (four).

Nashville are unbeaten in their two MLS home contests this season, failing to concede a single goal in either of those fixtures.

Another clean sheet this weekend would equal their longest run of games without a goal conceded at home in league play from a season ago (three).

In their five previous matches played against Montreal in the Music City, the Boys in Gold have never lost, claiming a 4-1 triumph against them at GEODIS Park last year.

Montreal continue to fight hard but have little to show for it in the early stages of the 2025 domestic campaign, sitting 13th in the Eastern Conference table.

At the moment they are lacking quality in the attacking third, failing to score in their last three outings, with the second-fewest goals scored in the conference so far (two).

If there is a silver lining for Laurent Courtois it may be that we are four matches into the season and they are just five points below the playoff line with plenty of games remaining.

Le CFM are in danger of going winless in their first five matches of the regular season for the first time since 2017 when they finished ninth in the Eastern Conference.

Montreal have lost their last three MLS matches when being behind after 45 minutes, going winless in their previous 10 league encounters when trailing at the half.

Their previous away victory in this competition took place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last October, with Le CFM defeating Atlanta United 2-1 on that occasion.

Nashville SC Major League Soccer form:

CF Montreal Major League Soccer form:

Team News

On the Nashville side, Maximus Ekk and Tyler Boyd missed their victory against Philly due to knee injuries, while Bryan Acosta was sidelined because of a thigh strain.

Three players will be unavailable on Saturday for the international window, with Jacob Shaffelburg called up to the Canadian squad, Andy Najar is with Honduras and Matthew Corcoran was named to the United States U-20 team.

Sam Surridge Ahmed Qasem and Hany Mukhtar all found the back of the net for them on matchday four, giving them a surprising three points.

A groin strain kept Montreal's big off-season signing Giacomo Vrioni on the sidelines against DC, Hennadiy Synchuk sat out with a lower body issue, Samuel Piette was unavailable due to a hamstring problem and Jalen Neal was sidelined because of a knee injury.

Only one player will be away for them this weekend for the international window with Joel Waterman joining the Canadian squad for the CONCACAF Nations League.

Ousman Jabang was transferred to New Mexico United in the United Soccer League earlier this week, while Jonathan Sirois stopped six DC efforts the last time out for his first clean sheet of the campaign.

Nashville SC possible starting lineup:

Willis; Maher, Zimmerman, Palacios, Lovitz; Qasem, Yazbek, Tagseth, Muyl; Mukhtar, Surridge

CF Montreal possible starting lineup:

Sirois; Campbell, Alvarez, Petrasso; Marshall-Rutty, Loturi, Saliba, Herbers, Sealy; Owusu, Vilsaint

We say: Nashville SC 1-0 CF Montreal

Until Montreal get some of their veterans back, we will have a hard time seeing them win many games, especially against a defensive unit as compact and disciplined as Nashville.

Written by

Joel Lefevre

Previews by email