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Toronto FC
Major League Soccer | Gameweek 41
Oct 24, 2021 at 12.30am UK
BMO Field
Montreal Impact

Toronto
1 - 1
Montreal

Altidore (90+5')
Mullins (6'), Okello (53'), Osorio (58'), Shaffelburg (64')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Sunusi (55')
Piette (58')

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between Toronto and CF Montreal, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

CF Montreal will look to keep a hold of their playoff place in the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference standings on Saturday, when they travel to take on Toronto.

The visitors currently occupy sixth spot but remain just a point ahead of eighth-placed New York City, meaning a run of results is vital in the final straight of the regular season.


Match preview

Toronto FC interim head coach Javier Perez looks on during the first half against New York City FC at BMO Field on August 7, 2021© Reuters

After reaching the playoffs last season, Toronto have had to battle through a difficult campaign this time around, and they have already seen their hopes of a top-seven finish wither away.

However, the Reds did manage to earn some pride in a vastly improved run at the end of September, as they collected 10 points from four MLS games thanks to wins over Nashville SC, FC Cincinnati and Chicago Fire.

Before that, Toronto picked up just 15 points from the first 24 games of the season to drop to the foot of their Conference, but they would have hoped to at least end the campaign in style to build confidence for next term.

Their form has since taken another dip though, with the positive run followed by consecutive defeats to Atlanta United and Inter Miami heading into Saturday, with the latter thrashing Javi Perez's men 3-0 thanks to goals from Federico Higuain, Christian Makoun and an Eriq Zavaleta own goal.

In their hopes to end the campaign on a high, they will look to get back to winning ways against a Montreal side who will be desperate to cling onto their spot in the top seven.

CF Montreal head coach Wilfred Nancy watches the play during the second half at Stade Saputo on October 16, 2021© Reuters

After several disappointing finishes in recent years, Montreal have impressed this time around, holding a playoff place for the majority of the campaign.

With 37 points from the first 25 league games, Wilfried Nancy's side undoubtedly looked in a strong position to qualify for this season's playoffs, but a slight dip in form has seen their spot come into question.

They have now collected just five points from their last five matches, with a 2-1 victory over Atlanta United providing a crucial rebound after consecutive MLS defeats.

Montreal now head into Saturday's game following back-to-back draws, having first rescued a point against Philadelphia Union thanks to Sunusi Ibrahim's 95th-minute equaliser, before sharing the spoils with Orlando City last time out.

A trip to the fourth-placed Lions proved a tough task for Nancy's men, and they will have been pleased to leave with a point after Rudy Camacho's equaliser, and the emphasis will now be on making a return to winning ways to remain ahead of the chasing pack in the final matches of the season.

Toronto Major League Soccer form:
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L

Toronto form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L

CF Montreal Major League Soccer form:
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • D

CF Montreal form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • D



Team News

Toronto FC forward Jozy Altidore celebrates his goal with teammates on May 12, 2021 © Reuters

Toronto remain without several players through injury, as Ifunanyachi Achara, Dom Dwyer, Ayo Akinola, Omar Gonzalez and Tsubasa Endoh will all continue spells on the sidelines.

They will be boosted by several returns though, as Auro Jr and Marco Delgado will both come back from suspensions, while Chris Mavinga was fit enough to make the bench last time out after a spell out through injury.

Following the attack's failure to fire for the second consecutive game, experienced forward Jozy Altidore will be pushing for a return to the starting XI, while Delgado will have to fight for his place with the likes of Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio and Noble Okello.

Montreal have several injury issues of their own, as important forward Mason Toye, who has netted seven goals in 14 MLS appearances, will miss out alongside midfielder Ahmed Hamdy.

In the absence of Toye, the line should again be led by Matko Miljevic, who netted their first goal in the 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Union.

Toronto possible starting lineup:
Bono; Laryea, Zavaleta, Lawrence, Morrow; Bradley, Delgado; Soteldo, Pozuelo, Shaffelburg; Altidore

CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Pantemis; Struna, Camacho, Miller; Brault-Guillard, Maciel, Piette, Bassong; Mihailovic, Miljevic, Torres


SM words green background

We say: Toronto 1-2 CF Montreal

Given the struggles of the home side and Montreal's need for a victory, we see the visitors leaving with all three points on Saturday.

The Reds' campaign looks to be coming to a disappointing end, and they could be outfought by a side who have far more to battle for at this stage.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data



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Written by
Sam Varley

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Toronto win with a probability of 45.86%. A win for CF Montreal had a probability of 29.53% and a draw had a probability of 24.6%.

The most likely scoreline for a Toronto win was 1-0 with a probability of 9.36%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (9.28%) and 2-0 (7.5%). The likeliest CF Montreal win was 0-1 (7.23%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (11.58%). The actual scoreline of 1-1 was predicted with an 11.6% likelihood.


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Game History

How you voted: Toronto vs Montreal

Toronto
42.9%
Draw
21.4%
CF Montreal
35.7%
14
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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