Two MLS teams seeking to bounce back from defeat last time out will lock horns at the Saputo Stadium on Sunday as CF Montreal play host to FC Cincinnati.
Montreal will be looking to claim their fourth home league win in five matches, while the visitors could extend their unbeaten away run to five games if they can avoid defeat in Quebec.
Match preview
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After suffering back-to-back league defeats against Nashville and Real Salt Lake, Montreal secured a 3-0 win at home to Forge in the quarter-finals of the Canadian Championship on Thursday.
Teenage striker Sunusi Ibrahim scored a hat-trick to help the five-time winners and current holders progress to the semi-finals, where they will face Toronto next month.
Wilfried Nancy's men now turn their attention back to the Eastern Conference where they currently sit fourth in the table, four points behind league leaders Philadelphia Union.
Sunday's contest will be the second of four consecutive home league matches for Montreal, who are looking to extend their unbeaten run against Cincinnati to four games, having won two and drawn one of their previous three meetings, scoring nine goals in the process.
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Cincinnati's club-record four-game winning run came to an end last weekend as they suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to New England Revolution.
The Orange and Blue pegged the visitors back twice, with Brandon Vazquez and Alvaro Barreal both getting their names on the scoresheet, but it was Tommy McNamara who had the last laugh, netting in the 89th minute to seal all three points for New England.
Pat Noonan's side have slipped down to sixth in the Eastern Conference, five points behind the summit and just one point behind Sunday's opponents Montreal.
Cincinnati, who had only won a total of four games in their previous two league seasons, have made impressive strides forward this term, and they will be looking to consolidate their place in the playoffs with victory at the Saputo Stadium.
Success this weekend, however, could prove challenging as they have failed to win any of their last three meetings with Montreal despite scoring seven goals during this period. Cincinnati had won each of their previous three games against them prior to this run, including 1-0 and 2-1 away wins in September 2019 and May 2021 respectively.
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Team News
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Montreal will be without midfielder Tomas Giraldo and forward Mason Toye as they continue to recover from respective hamstring and groin injuries.
Nancy is set to make several changes to the side which won against Forge on Thursday, with Rudy Camacho and Kamal Miller expected to replace Gabriele Corbo and Robert Orri Thorkelsson in the back three, and first-choice goalkeeper Sebastian Breza returning between the sticks.
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama is also set to be handed a recall in centre-midfield, while Joaquin Torres, Dorde Mihailovic and Romell Quioto will likely start in attack.
As for Cincinnati, Ronald Matarrita, Ben Mines and Ronaldo Ulate are all ruled out with ankle injuries, while Calvin Harris and goalkeeper Alec Kann are suffering with respective leg and abdominal problems.
Luciano Acosta, who has contributed to nine of Cincinnati's last 11 goals (five goals, three assists) in the last six games, is set to continue in the number 10 role behind central striker Vazquez.
Former Manchester United youngster Tyler Blackett will be hoping to force his way into the first XI and could replace Ian Murphy at centre-back.
CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Breza; Waterman, Camacho, Miller; Johnston, Hamdi, Wanyama, Lappalainen; Mihailovic, Torres; Quioto
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Powell, Hagglund, Blackett, Nelson; Moreno, Nwobodo; Badji, Acosta, Barreal; Vazquez
We say: CF Montreal 2-2 FC Cincinnati
Sunday's encounter is a difficult one to predict considering the last three results between the two teams; a goalless draw in August 2021 was sandwiched in between 5-4 and 4-3 victories for Montreal.
Both sides will fancy their chances of claiming maximum points at the Saputo Stadium, but as there is little to separate them, they may have to settle for an entertaining score draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
