On Saturday, Lionel Messi will make his first trip to Canada as a professional player when Inter Miami plays CF Montreal at Saputo Stadium.
After losing to Nashville SC 4-1 in their most recent MLS match, Montreal fell to 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Herons maintained their lead in the Supporters’ Shield standings after defeating the New York Red Bulls 6-2.
Laurent Courtois had a strong start to his MLS coaching career. However, he has recently found it difficult to get his team to play with more intensity, as Montreal has lost its last three league games.
Le CFM started the domestic season with a three-game winning streak, winning two of those games. However, coming into this match, they have lost four of their previous five away games in this league.
Montreal has given up goals in all but two of their home games thus far in the 2024 season, more than any other team in the Eastern Conference (20).
Only their third home game of the 2024 MLS season will take place on Saturday. Le CFM has gone undefeated at Saputo Stadium this year and has at least one point from six straight regular-season games in Montreal.
Le CFM has won five games where they have scored the first goal, including two at Saputo Stadium, but they have not lost a single minute of a game at home thus far in the 2024 MLS season.
They have won all four of their home MLS meetings with Miami, including this same matchup last season by a score of 1-0.
Just over a month after the Red Bulls had defeated them by the identical score (4-0), Inter Miami looked to be planning their revenge last Saturday as they burst into a six-goal second half.
The Herons have won four straight MLS games despite giving up the first goal on each of those occasions, giving their opponents a false sense of security before overwhelming them with their attacking depth.
When surrendering first, Tata Martino’s team has won seven of its nine league games this season. Their lone loss came in March, at home against Le CFM (3-2).
They have only gained one point in their last two trips to Saputo Stadium (a 2-2 draw in 2022) and have dropped three of their last four league games against Le CFM.
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