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[monks data]
Montreal Impact
Major League Soccer
Oct 8, 2023 at 12.30am UK
Stade Saputo
Portland Timbers
Montreal
4 - 1
Portland
Sunusi (28'), Opoku (35'), Choiniere (64'), Toye (76')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Boli (86')
Acosta (53')

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

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

CF Montreal will look to move a step closer to sealing a spot in the MLS playoffs when they play host to Portland Timbers on Saturday.

The visitors, meanwhile, will book their place in the post-season if they can claim maximum points at Stade Saputo.


Match preview

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

Montreal's hopes of reaching the playoffs for a second straight season have been dented by a seven-game winless run.

After suffering consecutive defeats, Montreal played out draws against both Chicago Fire and Cincinnati, before losing back-to-back away games against Atlanta United and Orlando City.

Hernan Losada's side looked set to lose for a third consecutive game when Arthur gave Houston Dynamo a 10th-minute lead in Wednesday's home fixture, but the Canadian side managed to salvage a point thanks to Lassi Lappalainen's stoppage-time equaliser.

With two games left to play, Montreal are currently sitting in ninth position in the Eastern Conference, which would be enough to secure them a spot in the inaugural wildcard round.

However, they can ill-afford to drop points in Saturday's contest, with goal difference separating them from New York City, while 13th-placed Charlotte FC are two points adrift with a game in hand.

Portland Timbers defender Claudio Bravo (5) celebrates on September 10, 2023© Reuters

In contrast to their hosts, Portland are currently enjoying a fine spell of form after putting together a seven-game unbeaten run.

The Timbers took four points from meetings with Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders, before claiming four successive victories ahead of last weekend's trip to Los Angeles.

Despite taking the lead on two occasions against LA Galaxy, the Timbers required a 76th-minute equaliser from Felipe Mora to ensure that the entertaining contest finished in a 3-3 draw.

With Portland sitting in seventh position and five points clear of 10th-place Austin, they will book their place in the post-season with a game to spare if they can claim their third away win of the MLS season.

Picking up all three points will be easier said than done, having failed to win any of their last four meetings (D2, L2) since recording a 2-1 away win in May 2015.

CF Montreal Major League Soccer form:

Portland Timbers Major League Soccer form:

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Team News

Montreal midfielder Lassi Lappalainen (21) celebrates with teammates after scoring on October 5, 2023© Reuters

The hosts remain without the services of Robert Thorkelsson and Aaron Herrera, who are ruled out with ankle and adductor injuries respectively.

Forward Jules-Anthony Vilsaint is a doubt for the weekend after missing Montreal's last four matches with an ankle problem.

After coming off the bench to score a stoppage-time equaliser against Houston Dynamo, Lappalainen could be rewarded with a place in the starting lineup.

Portland, meanwhile, are unable to call upon David Ayala, Jaroslaw Niezgoda and Eryk Williamson, who are all sidelined with anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

Yimmi Chara and Evander are also doubts for Saturday's away trip due to hamstring and calf issues respectively.

Cristhian Paredes will have to be assessed after being forced off in the first half of the 3-3 draw with LA Galaxy.


CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Sirois; Campbell, Waterman, Alvarez; Brault-Guillard, Saliba, Choiniere, Piette, Lappalainen; Opoku, Quioto

Portland Timbers possible starting lineup:
Bingham; Mosquera, Zuparic, McGraw, Bravo; Caliskan, Acosta, Moreno; Asprilla, Antony, Mora


SM words green background

We say: CF Montreal 1-1 Portland Timbers

Although Montreal have won their last two home meetings with Portland, the Timbers are unbeaten in seven MLS matches, and we think that they will continue that run by taking a point from Saturday's trip to Canada.

How to watch

You can watch CF Montreal vs. Portland Timbers 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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Game History

How you voted: Montreal vs Portland

CF Montreal
12.5%
Draw
25.0%
Portland Timbers
62.5%
8
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1FC CincinnatiCincinnati33208555371868
2Orlando City33179753391460
3Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia331510856391755
4Columbus Crew33159965452054
5New England RevolutionNew England331410956451152
6Atlanta UnitedAtlanta331311964511350
7Nashville SCNashville331310103931849
8CF MontrealMontreal33125163550-1541
9DC United341010144549-440
10New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls331010133539-440
11Chicago Fire331010133950-1140
12Charlotte FCCharlotte FC32912114250-839
13New York City FCNY City33814113439-538
14Inter MiamiInter Miami3296173951-1233
15Toronto33410192657-3122

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1St Louis City331751162431956
2Los Angeles FCLos Angeles331491053381551
3Seattle SoundersSeattle33131193932750
4Houston DynamoHouston331391148371148
5Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver331211105447747
6Real Salt LakeSalt Lake33138124750-347
7Dallas331013103736143
8San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes331013103842-443
9Portland TimbersPortland331110124555-1043
10Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd331011124548-341
11Sporting Kansas CityKansas33118144550-541
12Austin FCAustin33108154854-638
13Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy33812135063-1336
14Colorado RapidsColorado33512162653-2727

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