CF Montreal vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: Sartini Eager to Sustain Victory Momentum in Playoff Battle

The Vancouver Whitecaps aim to prolong their streak of triumphs with a jaunt to face CF Montreal in MLS come Saturday.

Vanni Sartini, from the helm of the Whitecaps, has rallied his squad to vie relentlessly for a spot in the playoffs as they gear up for their fixture against CF Montreal. With just two defeats in their last six games, the Whitecaps regained their winning rhythm on the road by toppling Minnesota United 3-1 this past Wednesday.

They’ve now climbed to fifth in the Western Conference, yet Sartini is aware the pursuit is far from over, given the proximity of rival teams. Despite a few shaky performances and a couple of perhaps unwarranted wins, Sartini observed, “We’ve been cautious and it’s paid off in points. Yet, in our recent matches, we’ve recaptured our early-season dynamism.”

He continued, “We need to channel the fighting spirit we had against Kansas City. Everyone thrives when we compete for playoff slots, and clinching a victory in Montreal would be stellar.”

On the other side, Montreal sits twelfth in the Eastern Conference, a mere two points shy of a playoff berth, despite managing only one victory in their last six encounters. While maintaining an unbeaten streak in their last four home games, their travels have been less fruitful, as goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois pointed out a lack of synergy among the forwards, especially in their recent fixture against New York City FC.

“Our forward line struggled to connect, and while we created some opportunities, they were too sparse, which is why we didn’t find the net,” explained Sirois.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CF Montreal – Sunusi Ibrahim

Sunusi Ibrahim, leading Montreal with six goals, is feeling the pressure to break his three-game dry spell, having only managed one shot in their latest defeat.

Vancouver Whitecaps – Ryan Gauld

Ryan Gauld, tied as the top scorer for Vancouver with nine goals alongside Brian White, pivoted to playmaker recently, setting up all three goals in their win over Minnesota.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

The historical clashes between Montreal and Vancouver have been evenly split, with each team claiming four wins apiece in their last eight meet-ups. Their most recent battle, in April 2023, saw Vancouver thrash Montreal 5-0.

Montreal’s form shows only one win in their last six, including a 4-1 victory over Philadelphia in their latest home game, against Vancouver’s successive wins in their last two matches, netting seven goals in total.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

CF Montreal – 38.4%
Draw – 26.5%
Vancouver Whitecaps – 35.1%