Atlanta United returns to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for its second consecutive home match on Saturday when it takes on CF Montréal. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET.
Atlanta United is now 2-1-0 with six points in the table after winning two of its first three matches of the season. The team is looking to capitalize on playing its second straight match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium before heading into the international break.
Last week, Atlanta United defended the throne against the Queen City and won 2-1 thanks to a Josef Martínez’s penalty kick and a final-gasp game-winner from second-half sub Jake Mulraney. Designated player Thiago Almada, the attacking midfielder from Argentina, made his club debut.
The 5-Stripes have scored five goals in home matches this season and will look to continue that trend on Saturday against CF Montréal. After going up against three less familiar foes, the club heads into its fourth match on the schedule to face an Eastern Conference opponent it has history with.
When Martínez spoke to the media on Friday, he said the one thing the team is focusing on right now is patience, and Atlanta United head coach Gonzalo Pineda echoed the importance of that value when he also spoke.
“The team hasn’t trained enough all together with the whole squad, so I’m just waiting for that, and I’m patient” Pineda said.
It’s true that player availability so far in 2022 has been in flux. Forward Luiz Araújo was injured 20 minutes into the home opener against Sporting Kansas City and is expected to miss four weeks. Almada, Santiago Sosa and Franco Ibarra returned from Argentina last week, although Ibarra will be unavailable for Saturday’s match. Veteran midfielder Osvaldo Alonso sat out of the team’s 3-0 loss to Colorado Rapids due to precautionary reasons.
The depth of the roster has helped Atlanta United win two of its first three matches, even with so many parts moving since preseason. It might make implementing his tactics a challenge, but for Pineda, patience is a virtue.
“I think we’ve been making a lot of progress in terms of the identity of the high pressure, of the desire, the ambitions, the goals, like many, many things – culturally, internally in the team and the club – that I feel confident that once everybody’s here, we can have a couple good training sessions and they understand those things more specifically, I think we’re going to improve a lot,” he said. “I’m patient for sure.”
About The Opponent
CF Montréal is an Eastern Conference opponent based in Canada. It’s one of three Canadian team in MLS, along with Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The club was founded in 2010 under the name Montreal Impact and began play in 2012. In 2021, the club rebranded to CF Montréal.
The team plays its home matches at Stade Saputo, a soccer-specific stadium with a field made of natural grass, where Atlanta United will travel to when it faces CF Montréal for the second matchup in April.
Along with MLS, CF Montréal competes in the Canadian championship, which includes the three MLS teams in Canada plus 10 clubs in other Canadian professional leagues. Montréal CF has won the Voyageurs Cup five times, most recently in 2021, trailing only Toronto FC for the most Canadian Champions titles (7).
CF Montréal is the only MLS club website written primarily in French. The club’s main colors are dark blue, black and white.
The club has had eight managers in its 11-year history. The team is now managed by Wilfried Nancy, a former French professional player. He joined the club last year, and it’s his first managerial experience.
Series History
Atlanta United and CF Montréal have met nine times, and Atlanta United owns the all-time series 5-2-2. The 5-Stripes have won all four meetings at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, so Montréal has never earned a point in Atlanta.
The last meeting between the two sides was on October 2, 2021. Three goals were scored in the first seven minutes of the second half. Mulraney scored for Atlanta United, but Montréal forward Romell Quioto had a brace to lead Montréal to a 2-1 victory.
The result ended Montreal’s seven-match winless run against Atlanta United.
“For me, I’m just waiting on the best Montreal,” Pineda said on Friday. “They will try to come back and prove to the league that they’re doing well. They’re a very good team. Last year, they beat us in their house. I remember that one. So we expect the best Montreal possible.”
So Far in 2022
Atlanta United heads into the match with six points in the table and a 2-1-0 record after wins against Sporting Kansas City and Charlotte FC. The team has spread the wealth in terms of goals scored this season as five different 5-Stripes have found the back of the net. The club is looking to extend its nine-match unbeaten streak at home.
CF Montréal meanwhile is still looking for its first win in MLS competition this season. The 2022 season is just the second time the club has opened with three straight losses. Most recently, the team lost to New York City FC 4-1 last week at Yankee Stadium.
As the 2021 Canadian Championship winners, Montréal also earned a berth in the 2022 Concacaf Champions League. The club was ousted in the quarterfinals on Wednesday after falling behind 2-1 on aggregate to Cruz Azul, a club from Liga MX.
“We’ll try to play the same style, trying to start on the front foot as always, especially at home, and try to be the team that dictates the intensity of the game,” Pineda said. “We try to be that type of team, and hopefully we can do the same this Saturday regardless of the opponent.”
Atlanta United |
CF Montréal |
|
|---|---|---|
Possession |
56.3% (6th) |
55% (10th) |
Duel Percentage |
52.3% (6th) |
51.6% (8th) |
Pass Percentage |
83.3% (7th) |
83.5% (6th) |
Corners Taken |
23 (2nd) |
24 (1st) |
Players To Watch
Djordje Mihailovic – The attacking midfielder joined CF Montréal in a trade with the Chicago Fire back in 2021. Last season with Montréal, Mihailovic tallied the second-most assists in the MLS (16), and the 23-year-old has carried over his playmaking to 2022. In the loss to NYCFC, he recorded his second assist of the season, setting up Zachary Brault-Guillard for Montreal’s only goal. Since the beginning of August 2021, Mihailovic has recorded 13 assists, three more than any other player in MLS in that time span.
Marcelino Moreno – It’s unclear whether Marcelino Moreno, who started 31 matches for Atlanta last season but is working his way back into top form, will return to the starting XI on Saturday. It is clear, however, that when the midfielder from Argentina is on the pitch, Atlanta United is more creative – proven by the wonderful diagonal pass he made to set up Mulraney’s goal against Charlotte FC. Moreno has two assists on the season, tied with Martínez for most on the team, and has provided a spark when he entered both home matches as a sub.
Josef Martínez – With the goal last week against Charlotte, Martínez has scored against 25 MLS opponents, tied with Chris Wondolowski for most opponents scored against in MLS history. Atlanta United’s all-time leading scorer has one goal on the season and has been close to netting more, including a header last week that required a superb save by Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina. Although he’ll be practicing patience, Martínez will be looking for his first non-PK goal of the season on Saturday.
Kamal Miller – Miller leads CF Montréal in clearances (17) and interceptions (5) across all competitions, (10 clearances and three interceptions in MLS). After playing two seasons with Orlando City, the center back has found a home in Canada. He was one of the most improved players in the league last season and helped Montréal reduce their goals-against average by over 0.5 goals. His six-foot height will present a challenge for Atlanta United to create chances through the air.
Other Tidbits
- The 5-Stripes have not been beaten in nine consecutive matches at home, a streak that extends back to 2021. That’s just two away from tying the best home unbeaten streak in club history (11 in 2019).
- Atlanta United will be wearing the BLVCK kit on Saturday.
It’s a 4:00 p.m. ET kickoff for Atlanta United and CF Montréal on Saturday.
Atlanta United vs. CF Montréal
Everything you need to know about the match including lineups, stats, latest stories and real-time updates.
