By Canadian Press

Last-place CF Montreal returns home after seven-game road trip to open MLS season

Apr 11, 2025 | 3:41 PM

MONTREAL — For the first time in 171 days, CF Montreal will be playing in front of the Stade Saputo crowd when the Major League Soccer club hosts Charlotte FC on Saturday evening.

Montreal (0-5-2), which opened the campaign with a seven-game road trip, is off to its worst start to a season since moving to MLS in 2012. Due in large part to a lack of winterproofing measures at its home facility, long early-season road trips have become the norm in recent years.

It can often put added pressure on the team to earn results at home.

“It’s the reality of the situation,” said Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois. “We have no choice but to be excellent at home. With everything that happened in the beginning of the season, we haven’t picked up many points.

“So we know that it’s vital for us to pick up (more at home). I don’t think there’s pressure to be perfect, but there’s pressure to deliver solid performances.”

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Montreal lost to top-tier teams like the Columbus Crew and a newly reinforced Atlanta United side by a single goal. Both games could have ended in a draw if the visitors had been more clinical.

For all the good work that Montreal has put in, a missed final ball, a failed one-on-one dribble, or a lack of finishing has been the team’s trademark so far.

Interim head coach Marco Donadel’s has preached a more attacking-minded style of play but the team remains stuck in the Eastern Conference basement. His players will need to become more efficient in order to rise up the standings.

“We want to win our first game (at home) and I think we have a good chance to do that,” said Donadel. “With a win, we can start the process of gaining confidence, which gives us more energy during the week.”

The home opener will be the first time that there are no names on Montreal’s injury report. New signings Giacomo Vrioni, Jalen Neal and Hennadiy Synchuk are all expected to be included on the matchday squad for the first time.

Since its inaugural season in 2022, Charlotte (4-2-1) has quietly become one of the best examples of how a small-market team can achieve consistent growth on a budget.

Charlotte, which finished fifth in the East last season, is currently tied for third place with 13 points. Pep Biel and newly acquired Wilfred Zaha have combined for four goals and five assists.

“I don’t think it matters too much who’s playing. We have to stick to a game plan and execute it,” said Montreal defender George Campbell. “Charlotte’s a really good team, so we just need to have in our heads what we’re going to do on the ball and off the ball and stick to it.”

Zaha was not expected to play as he’s still recovering from thumb surgery.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2025.

Elias Grigoriadis, The Canadian Press