Preview: With reinforcements on the way, Toronto FC hope to get back on track vs. CF Montréal

On the heels of a deflating 2-0 loss to the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, Toronto FC will try and get back into the win column on Saturday when they travel up the 401 to face rivals CF Montréal at the Stade Saputo.

The last time these two sides met, in the semi finals of the Canadian Championship on June 22, Toronto put forth one of their best performances of the season, defeating Montréal 4-0. It was the first (and only) time this year Toronto won a match by more than one goal.

On that day, Ayo Akinola scored his first and only brace of the season, while Jesús Jiménez and Alejandro Pozuelo added insurance makers.

"Maybe it just brings the best out of me,” said Akinola after the match. “It is a true rivalry between Toronto and Montréal because every time we play them, we always want to kick their ass."

With Montréal (9-8-2) seeking revenge, there’s no love lost between these two sides who find themselves at opposite ends of the table. Wilfred Nancy’s men have put together a strong campaign and are in fourth, while Toronto (5-11-4) are second-last in the East, seven points adrift from the final playoff spot in the conference.

“They're a good team,” said Bob Bradley on Montréal Friday from the BMO Training Ground. “They have solid organization, a clear idea of what they want to do on the field. Slight differences, whether up top it's like a 10 underneath two strikers or sometimes it's almost like two underneath one, that changes a little bit and gives them a little different way of getting at teams, but use of wing-backs, diagonal balls, getting numbers in the box, good on set-pieces.”

It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the Quebec-based team. They’ve lost two straight games for the first time since May and have dropped three of its last five home matches, including a 2-1 defeat to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.

Montréal has struggled to keep the ball out of their net and are one of two teams, along with Toronto, yet to keep a clean sheet at home this season.

What they do have going for them, however, is a potent offense, led by MVP candidate Djordje Mihailovic, who appears set to return for Montréal. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder has been sidelined for the last five league games with an ankle injury he picked up in late May.

Mihailovic has seven goals and three assists in 13 starts this season and is not listed on Montréal’s injury report ahead of Saturday’s match. He returned to training with the team last week and could be ready to make his return this weekend, which would be an enormous boost for the home side.

“Excellent start to the season, he’s a skillful player,” said Bradley, when asked about Montréal’s talisman. “In the way they play, his ability to create for others, his timing to get into the box are important qualities.”

Montréal have scored 33 goals in its first 19 MLS regular season games, its highest total in the first 19 games since the club entered the league back in 2012. The club has scored the second-most goals in the Eastern conference, behind NYCFC (38).

On the other hand, Toronto have struggled to keep the ball out of the back of their net, having now conceded in 28-straight league games – equaling the fourth-longest streak in MLS history. Coincidentally, their only clean sheet of the year came against their 401 rivals in their Canadian Championship triumph last month.

Another tantalizing statistic looming over Toronto’s season has been their inability to win on the road. The Reds are 0-6-3 in league matches away from BMO Field this year, and will hope to end that streak on Saturday in Montréal.

“When you talk about how we get better, it's straightforward: in the attacking advantages we've got to execute better, got to be a little sharper, we've got to be a little bit more of a threat,” said Bradley, when asked about the team’s struggles on the road this year. “And then we've got to be able to handle some situations defensively in a way where we, from nothing or little, put ourselves in a bad spot.”

Making the playoffs is still within reach, especially with the recent additions of Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, who could both debut next weekend vs. Charlotte FC.

If Toronto can pull off another victory over their Canadian rivals – without any designated players in the lineup – it could give the team the added morale lift needed to go on a run down the stretch.

“Yes, we can do it,” said Bradley, asked about the playoffs. “It's going to be hard work. We have to play well, have to pick up points, have to avoid some of the mistakes we've made of late.

“The work to become a better team goes hand-in-hand with the work to take points. Every one of us has been through that many times over – different leagues, different clubs, different situations, but that's what it's all about.”

Predicted Starting XI

 (4-3-3) Westberg; Thompson, O’Neill, Criscito, Petrasso; Osorio, Bradley, Kaye; Kerr, Jiménez, Nelson

Injury Reports

Toronto FC: Noble Okello (OUT), Chris Mavinga (OUT)

CF Montréal: Bjørn Johnsen (OUT), Tomas Giraldo (OUT)

Betting Lines

Toronto FC (+410) | CF Montréal (-159) | Draw (+295)

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