Three massive points will be at stake Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium when Atlanta United host CF Montreal in the 32nd match of the MLS regular-season for both teams.
Each side are on the outside of the playoff picture, with the Five Stripes three points below that final spot after playing to a 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union, while Le CFM are tied with the Union for that last place in the Eastern Conference, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes 3-0.
Match preview
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In a match that could have significantly closed the gap between themselves and a post-season berth, Atlanta came up empty, managing just one effort on target against Philly.
That extended their winless run in MLS to four matches, while Rob Valentino's men only have three games remaining to try to make the playoff for a second successive season.
Two of their final three league encounters occur at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where they have claimed just five victories this year, tied for the second-fewest in the Eastern Conference.
The Five Stripes have only suffered one defeat in their last six home matches in this competition, losing 2-0 versus Nashville SC earlier this month.
A defeat on Wednesday would be their 14th of the year, equalling a club record set in 2022 for the most in a single regular season.
Atlanta United have never lost a home game in this competition versus Canadian opposition since officially entering the league in 2017.
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Seemingly out of nowhere, CF Montreal have come to life, currently riding a four-match unbeaten run domestically, putting them on the cusp of a first post-season berth since 2022.
If they can avoid defeat on Wednesday, Montreal will manage to equal their longest unbeaten run of the 2024 regular season.
Their poor goal differential is currently separating them from a playoff spot, with this group at -17, tied for the third-worst mark in the Eastern Conference.
All year long, Laurent Courtois's men have struggled to keep the ball out of the back of their net, conceding the second-most goals in the East (61), but they enter this encounter having posted consecutive clean sheets.
Two of their remaining three league fixtures take place away from home, where they are winless in 12 successive domestic encounters.
Le CFM have lost two of their previous three meetings versus Atlanta but won their last one earlier this year at Saputo Stadium (1-0).
Team News
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For this encounter, the Five Stripes could be without Jamal Thiare, who was in concussion protocol last weekend, and Ronald Hernandez is questionable due to a sore ankle.
Xande Silva could be sidelined on Wednesday with an issue in his foot, while Quentin Westberg remains doubtful because of a head injury.
Saba Lobzhanidze levelled their match with the Union 11 minutes after the Five Stripes had conceded on Saturday, netting his team-leading eighth of the MLS campaign.
Lassi Lappalainen was sidelined in the previous outing for Le CFM with a knock, while Dawid Bugaj made his first MLS appearance for them as a substitute and Nathan-Dylan Saliba became the fourth player from their academy to collect 50 league caps.
Only one change was made to the Montreal starting 11 on Saturday, with Joel Waterman drawing into the lineup in place of Gabriele Corbo.
Josef Martinez, a former Atlanta United star striker, had a brace for Montreal against the Quakes, with the other goal coming courtesy of Caden Clark, while Jonathan Sirois collected his second successive clean sheet.
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Lennon, Rode Gregersen, Williams, Amador; Slisz, McCarty; Lobzhanidze, Muyumba, Wolff; Rios
CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Sirois; Campbell, Waterman, Alvarez; Marshall-Rutty, Piette, Saliba, Edwards; Duke, Clark; Martinez
We say: Atlanta United 1-1 CF Montreal
Montreal have taken care of business in recent outings, but they will be facing an opponent on Wednesday far superior to their previous two, and we expect a stalemate between two sides that will be desperate to remain in the playoff race but perhaps not so keen to take a lot of risks going forward.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
