TORONTO – CF Montréal return to MLS action this Sunday at 7:30pm against Toronto FC at BMO Field (MLS Season Pass, RDS, TSN, BPM Sports, TSN 690).
After losing out in the group stage of the 2023 Leagues Cup, the Montrealers will be playing their first match following a break of more than three weeks.
With 29 points after 23 games, the_ Bleu-blanc-noir_ are currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, one point outside the playoffs.
The Montrealers will arrive at BMO Field with a 4-6-4 road record against their rivals, having scored 20 goals and conceded 23. On their last visit to Toronto on May 9, Hernán Losada's men got the better of TFC, winning 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Championship thanks to Chinonso Offor's winning goal.
“We need to stay well organized,” said head coach Hernán Losada. “I think it's going to be important to keep our discipline. It's an away game and it's a derby. It's going to be very important to stay focused from the start of the game."
Recently signed to a contract extension through 2026, Homegrown goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois is one clean sheet away from equalling the Club record set by Evan Bush in 2018. The Saint-Hubert native collected his ninth shutout in a 2-0 home win on July 15 against Charlotte in the team’s last outing prior to the 2023 Leagues Cup break.
In addition, team captain Samuel Piette is now the Club's all-time leader in MLS regular-season starts by a field player (131). He is also just three games away (148) from equalling the Club record held by Patrice Bernier for the number of MLS regular-season games played by a field player.
As for the opponent, Toronto has been under the management of interim head coach Terry Dunfield since June 26. The Reds are also returning from an extended break, having also been left out of the Leagues Cup knockout rounds after defeats to Atlas (0-1) and New York City FC (0-5).
The Torontonians are 14th in the East and on a tough run of seven consecutive defeats across all competitions. Their last goal came on June 24 in a 2-1 defeat to New England.
