MLS game Set for Wednesday at Saputo Stadium

CF Montreal are back in front of their home fans this Wednesday, seeking their first Major League Soccer victory at Saputo Stadium this season when they take on high-flying FC Cincinnati.

Montreal are coming off a confidence-boosting 3-1 away win against Houston Dynamo, while Cincinnati edged New England Revolution 1-0 in their last outing to stay hot on the heels of Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union.

Match Preview

Montreal return to league play after the international break with a renewed sense of purpose. Their victory in Houston was only their second league win of the season and marked the first time they’ve scored more than twice in a single MLS match this year.

Marco Donadel’s side will be hoping to build on that momentum as they begin a three-game homestand. A win on Wednesday would give Montreal back-to-back MLS victories for the first time this season.

Despite signs of improvement, Montreal’s defensive record at home remains a concern. They have allowed 11 goals in their last three home league matches and have not claimed any points this season when conceding first. In addition, they have squandered leads on multiple occasions, dropping four points when ahead at halftime.

However, the history books offer some encouragement. Montreal are unbeaten in their last four home matches against Cincinnati, winning three of those meetings at Saputo Stadium.

FC Cincinnati, meanwhile, continue to show why they are among the Eastern Conference’s elite. Their performance against New England was vintage Cincinnati—limited possession, but defensively solid and ruthless in front of goal. It was their sixth clean sheet of the campaign and their ninth one-goal win out of 10 total victories in 2025.

Pat Noonan’s side has been strong on the road, especially when leading at halftime. They have only failed to win once in such situations this year—a 1-1 draw at Columbus Crew. Still, Cincinnati have dropped four away matches this season, matching their total road losses from 2024.

Their recent visits to Canada have been productive, with back-to-back wins north of the border, both by a one-goal margin.

Team Form

CF Montreal (MLS only):
D – L – D – L – L – W
CF Montreal (All competitions):
L – L – D – L – L – W

FC Cincinnati (MLS only):
W – D – L – D – L – W

Team News

Montreal will be without several key players due to injury and international duty. Hennadiy Synchuk and Bryce Duke missed the Houston game due to lower body problems, while Fabian Herbers is recovering from an ankle issue. Giacomo Vrioni is expected back after serving a suspension.

They’ll also miss Joel Waterman, Nathan Saliba, Olger Escobar, and Dante Sealy, all of whom are away representing their countries at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In transfer news, midfielder Dominik Yankov has joined Croatian club HNK Rijeka.

Prince Osei Owusu continues to be Montreal’s primary attacking threat with six goals so far this season, including a brace against Houston. Defender Jalen Neal also opened his scoring account for the club in that match.

For Cincinnati, Yuya Kubo and Nick Hagglund are recovering from leg and chest injuries, respectively. The team will also be without defender Miles Robinson, who is with the U.S. national team. However, Teenage Hadebe is expected to return after featuring for Zimbabwe in World Cup qualifiers.

Kevin Denkey leads the Orange and Blue in scoring with 11 goals. Goalkeeper Roman Celentano is coming off a milestone performance, collecting a clean sheet in his 128th appearance for the club, moving into fourth on the franchise’s all-time appearances list. Midfielder Obinna Nwobodo is close to reaching 10,000 MLS minutes—just 14 minutes away from joining an exclusive club in Cincinnati history.

Projected Lineups

CF Montreal Possible XI:
Sirois; Bugaj, Campbell, Neal, Petrasso; Loturi, Piette; Clark, Opoku; Owusu, Vrioni

FC Cincinnati Possible XI:
Celentano; Flores, Miazga, Hadebe; Yedlin, Bucha, Nwobodo, Orellano; Evander; Santos, Denkey

Prediction

Cincinnati come into this clash as the stronger side on paper, especially with their solid defensive record and consistent form in tight matches. Their recent win may lift Montreal, but their issues at home and multiple key absences could be difficult to overcome.

Prediction: CF Montreal 1-2 FC Cincinnati