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Orlando City
Major League Soccer
Oct 1, 2023 at 12.30am UK
Exploria Stadium
Montreal Impact

Orlando City
3 - 0
Montreal

Sirois (19' og.), Dan Thor­halls­son (50'), Torres (54')
Enrique (68'), Araujo (75')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Campbell (24'), Corbo (60'), Saliba (69')

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

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

Orlando City will look to extend their unbeaten home run to 12 matches in all competitions when they welcome CF Montreal to Exploria Stadium on Saturday.

The visitors, meanwhile, will be hoping to return to winning ways after picking up just two points from their previous five MLS matches.


Match preview

Orlando City SC forward Ramiro Enrique (7) is congratulated by forward Facundo Torres (17) after scoring a goal  on July 2, 2023© Reuters

Sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference, Orlando have already made sure of their spot in the postseason, but they will be determined to maintain their current spot in the standings over the course of their final four matches.

Orlando looked set to carry momentum into the playoffs after putting together a six-game unbeaten run in MLS (W5, D1), before their impressive run of form was brought to a halt by a 2-0 away defeat to New York City.

The Lions were unable to bounce back with a win last weekend, but they did manage to avoid defeat against Inter Miami after Duncan McGuire cancelled out David Ruiz's opener to ensure that the spoils were shared.

The result also helped extend Orlando's unbeaten home run to 11 matches in all competitions, leaving them three games off their all-time club record of 15 games, which was set across the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

They also have the chance to set a new club record for the most points in a single season after equalling the current record of 51 with the draw against Miami.

CF Montreal head coach Hernan Losada reacts on June 24, 2023© Reuters

While Orlando have booked their ticket to the playoffs, Montreal still have work to do if they are to reach the postseason for the second straight year.

After collecting 37 points from 30 games, the Canadian side are sitting in eighth position in the Eastern Conference, and crucially, they are one point clear of 10th-placed DC United, who have played a game more.

With seven points separating them from the top seven, a place in the first round of the playoffs is unlikely, but Montreal boss Hernan Losada will be content if his side can secure their place in the wild-card round.

If they are to hold off the chasing pack, Montreal will need to improve upon their recent run of results, having failed to win any of their last five matches (D2, L3).

They were brushed aside 4-1 in last weekend's away meeting with Atlanta United, highlighting the struggles that have left them with eight points from 15 games on the road, representing the second-worst away record in MLS.

Orlando City Major League Soccer form:

CF Montreal Major League Soccer form:


Team News

Orlando City SC head coach Oscar Pareja reacts on June 21, 2023© Reuters

Orlando are unable to call upon goalkeeper Adam Grinwis and midfielder Favian Loyola, who are ruled out with thigh and arm injuries respectively.

Having missed the last seven matches through injury, Carlos Antonio remains a doubt for Saturday's home fixture.

McGuire is poised to start a second straight game, with Oscar Pareja set to name an unchanged starting lineup for the clash with Montreal.

As for the visitors, they are without Aaron Herrera and Robert Thorkelsson, while Jules-Anthony Vilsaint is also a doubt.

With Joel Waterman suspended for Saturday's away trip, Fernando Alvarez could be presented with his first MLS start.

Nathan-Dylan Saliba is expected to return to the Montreal midfield after dropping down to the bench for the defeat to Atlanta.


Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Thorhallsson, Schlegel, Jansson, Santos; Araujo, Cartagena; Torres, Pereyra, Angulo; McGuire

CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Sirois; Alvarez, Campbell, Corbo; Brault-Guillard, Saliba, Piette, Choiniere; Hamdi; Opoku, Offor


SM words green background

We say: Orlando City 2-1 CF Montreal

Orlando have been in imperious form on home turf, and with Montreal winless in five matches, we think that the hosts will make full use of home advantage to claim maximum points on Saturday.

How to watch

You can watch Orlando City vs. CF Montreal and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals 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.Under 3.5:data


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Written by
Ben Sully

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Game History

How you voted: Orlando City vs Montreal

Orlando City
60.0%
Draw
40.0%
CF Montreal
0.0%
5
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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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