Nashville SC v CF Montreal: Mukhtar eager to maintain feel-good factor

Hany Mukhtar is eager to keep alive the feel-good factor at Nashville SC when winless CF Montreal visit Geodis Park on Saturday.

Nashville started the 2025 season slowly with one point from their first two matches, but they have since won back-to-back games.

Those victories over the Portland Timbers and Philadelphia Union have lifted the Coyotes up to fifth in the Eastern Conference ahead of facing Montreal.

Montreal are without a win so far, but Mukhtar is not taking anything for granted this weekend.

“It’s a good atmosphere right now and we’re trying our best to keep it up,” he told reporters.

“Our next game is against a good opponent in Montreal. They haven’t got the results yet but they’re a good team and we have respect for them.

“At the same time, we know what we’re about and need to stick to the plan. It’s about getting the three points at home.”

Have a Happy Birthday, Hany pic.twitter.com/lS9n2CqCch

— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) March 21, 2025

Montreal are 13th in the East with just one point from a possible 12, which they collected in their most recent outing against D.C. United.

The Canadian side have gone three games without a goal after that 0-0 draw, with Laurent Courtois accepting there is room for improvement.

“We tried to be a little more aggressive in transition against D.C.,” he said. “That’s something we think we can improve on in the future.

“The players gave their all, respecting the gameplan and instructions, so we’re satisfied, even if it was only a point. It wasn’t an easy game.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nashville – Sam Surridge

Surridge scored his first goal of the campaign in last week’s win over Philadelphia, with that his 15th MLS goal since his debut in August 2023.

The Englishman leads the scoring charts for Nashville over that period, netting four more than Mukhtar, who he is expected to partner again in attack.

Le Stade Saputo se prépare

Stade Saputo is officially getting ready #CFMTL pic.twitter.com/NRBnuAmQ6k

— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) March 19, 2025

Montreal – Prince Owusu

Owusu scored and assisted in the opening-day 3-2 loss to Atlanta United, but he has since gone three matches without a goal involvement.

The January signing was a threat against D.C. last weekend, winning an MLS-season high seven fouls, but the pressure is on for Montreal to find the net.

MATCH PREDICTION – NASHVILLE WIN

Nashville head into this match on the back of successive league victories by two or more goals for the first time since May 2023.

Montreal have one point from four matches for the fourth time in their history, though they did come back to make the playoffs the last time that happened two years ago.

The Coyotes have lost just one of their nine previous meetings with Montreal, coming away from home in 2023, and have won three in a row at Geodis Park in this fixture.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Nashville – 46.8%

Draw – 26.4%

Montreal – 26.8%