Preview: Orlando City vs. CF Montreal

Orlando City will look to extend their unbeaten home run to 12 matches in all competitions when they welcome CF Montreal to Exploria Stadium on Saturday.

The visitors, meanwhile, will be hoping to return to winning ways after picking up just two points from their previous five MLS matches.

Match preview

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Sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference, Orlando have already made sure of their place in the postseason, but they will be determined to maintain their current spot in the standings over the course of their final four matches.

Orlando looked set to carry momentum into the playoffs after putting together a six-game unbeaten run in the MLS (W5, D1), before their impressive run of form was brought to a halt by a 2-0 away defeat to New York City.

The Lions were unable to bounce back with a win last weekend, but they did manage to avoid defeat against Inter Miami after Duncan McGuire cancelled out David Ruiz‘s opener to ensure the spoils were shared.

The result also helped extend Orlando’s unbeaten home run to 11 matches in all competitions, leaving them three games off their all-time club record of 15 games, which was set across the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

They also have the chance to set a new club record for the most points in a single season after equalling the current record of 51 with the draw against Miami.

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While Orlando have booked their ticket to the playoffs, Montreal still have work to do if they are to reach the postseason for the second straight season.

After collecting 37 points from 30 games, the Canadian side are sitting in eighth position in the Eastern Conference, and crucially, they are one point clear of 10th-place DC United, who have played a game more.

With seven points separating them from the top seven, a place in the first round of the playoffs is unlikely, but Montreal boss Hernan Losada will be content if his side can secure their place in the wild-card round.

If they are to hold off the chasing pack, Montreal will need to improve upon their recent run of results, having failed to win any of their last five matches (D2, L3).

They were brushed aside 4-1 in last weekend’s away meeting with Atalanta United, highlighting the struggles that have left them with eight points from 15 games on the road, representing the second-worst away record in the MLS.

Orlando City Major League Soccer form:

CF Montreal Major League Soccer form:

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Team News

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Orlando are unable to call upon goalkeeper Adam Grinwis and midfielder Favian Loyola, who are ruled out with thigh and arm injuries respectively.

Having missed the last seven matches through injury, Carlos Antonio remains a doubt for Saturday’s home fixture.

McGuire is poised to start a second straight game, with Oscar Pareja set to name an unchanged starting lineup for the clash with Montreal.

As for the visitors, they are without Aaron Herrera and Robert Thorkelsson, while Jules-Anthony Vilsaint is also a doubt.

With Joel Waterman suspended for Saturday’s away trip, Fernando Alvarez could be presented with his first MLS start.

Nathan-Dylan Saliba is expected to return to the Montreal midfield after dropping down to the bench for the defeat to Atalanta.

Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Thorhallsson, Schlegel, Jansson, Santos; Araujo, Cartagena; Torres, Pereyra, Angulo; McGuire

We say: Orlando City 2-1 CF Montreal

Orlando have been in imperious form on home turf, and with Montreal winless in five matches, we think the hosts will make full use of home advantage to claim maximum points on Saturday.

How to watch

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For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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