Predicition: Montreal vs DC United

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 151/100

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Following a slow start of the campaign, Montreal welcomes DC United searching for the first win since mid-April. The game will be played at the Saputo Stadium where over 23,000 fans will push the local side towards the 4th win of the season.

Montreal

After an incredible start that saw Montreal undefeated in the opening three rounds, the hosts strangely slowed down in the following games. After their victory over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, the Canadian team seemed like a serious contender for the Eastern Conference title.

Nevertheless, the first indication of the host’s defensive issues came with the strange downturn that followed as Montreal lost each of their next three games. Even though they led against Chicago Fire at halftime, Montreal’s second-half collapse caused them to lose 4–3, recording the first loss of the season. The visits to DC United and Seattle were even more disastrous for Laurent Courtois’s team, losing both games without scoring (1-0 against DC United and 5-0 against Seattle).

The hosts of this match thus dropped to 13th place following poor performances, seven points outside the play-offs. With four losses in the previous five games, Montreal’s below-expected results persisted, making it difficult for the team to compete at a high level owing to unresolved defensive concerns. Nevertheless, after the humiliating 5-1 loss at Toronto, Courtois made some tactical adjustments that paid off in the most recent goalless draw at home versus Nashville.

After a dismal start to the season and a difficult schedule ahead, Montreal has to defeat DC United to avoid elimination from the play-offs early on. Furthermore, Montreal, who failed to win any of their last four games against the Capital team, have always found the visitors a formidable foe.

Team News

The strikers for Montreal were out for weeks owing to injury, which contributed to the lack of goals scored in the recent games. Both Matias Coccaro and Joseph Martinez will be out for an extended length of time due to knee injuries. In addition, Lassi Lapallainen entered the recovery room through groin issues.

DC United

An excellent start with a single defeat in the first seven rounds had the hosts dreaming of the quarter-finals of the play-offs. However, the inability to close games which led to many points dropped sent DC United to 9th place, four points behind their target. Still, with 18 points from 15 games (W4D6L5), the away side is positioned in the last spot that leads to the round of 16.

Starting May undefeated with a spectacular home stalemate against Philadelphia (2-2) followed by a statement win at Atlanta United (3-2),  the run was ended by New York Red Bulls who punished the hosts with a comprehensive 4-1 win. Following the heavy blow suffered in that match, DC United travelled to Miami to face Messi & Co. with few expectations considering the current leader’s impressive form.

Despite dominating the game from start to finish, Inter Miami narrowly edged DC United with a late goal scored in the 90th minute by Leonardo Campagna, inflicting Troy Lesesne’s team with the 5th defeat in the league. With an upcoming difficult schedule and Orlando City looking to explore any slip, DC United must repeat the latest two displays at Montreal when they left the pitch with all three points.

Team News

Central midfielder Rusell Canouse has been out with illness since the end of March and will not play against Montreal. Lesesne is expected to dispatch Ibrahim Sunusi upfront with the young Nigerian striker scoring against Toronto.

Key factors to consider

• Montreal disappointed their fans this season after registering a single home win (2-1 against Cincinnati)
• The hosts are in free fall suffering four defeats in the last five rounds
• Laurent Courtouis’s team conceded 15 goals in the last five games
• DC United are well positioned in a play-off spot with 18 points after playing 15 rounds
• Despite struggling on the road, the visitors proved to be difficult to defeat away from home (W1D4L2)
• Troy Lesesne’s team has an excellent recent away record against Montreal (W2)

Conclusion

Montreal have all the attributes required to get back on track with a win against DC United. Although the visitors are slightly better positioned in the standings, their recent results display a fall that Montreal should be capable of exploiting.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 151/100

Bookmaker: ZetBet