The match pitting Charlotte FC against CF Montréal this Saturday has to be considered a truly defining clash, not only in terms of resolution for the MLS playoff positions but also for the immediate futures of these teams. Charlotte does have their playoff spot in the bag, but the aim now is not to have to go through a tricky Wild Card match, and for that, they have to hold onto or improve their current seventh position in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Montréal also want that position and are just a step away from securing it. The level of tension is high, and this match will surely become electrifying.
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Charlotte FC: Offensive explosion at the right moment
The one thing that has characterized Charlotte FC's recent games is an explosive attack that finally came together. We saw, with the team's 4-3 victory over Chicago Fire FC last Wednesday, that when the top players are on synchrony, they are very close to being unstoppable. The three designated players — Swiderski, Biel, and Abada — all scored for the first time in the same match. It was something that, at one point in time, felt frustrating to wait for; it proved to be a reason for optimism.
In that victory, Charlotte FC created 7 chances just from those three and recorded an expected goals of 3.07numbers that show just how well the team functioned offensively. It's no coincidence that in their last two home games, they scored four goals in each, something unprecedented in club history. If this combination of Swiderski, Biel, and Abada keeps going this strong, Charlotte will be set for everything to lock in their position in the first round of the Playoffs without a risk via the Wild Card match.
But as head coach Dean Smith rightly pointed out, it's not all about focusing on the opponent: "Going into the Montréal game, we know what they're capable of, but more importantly, we know what we're capable of." And he's right. Charlotte needs to keep that focus on what they do best-especially feeding their forwards early and often-to see them over the solid defense in Montréal.
CF Montreal - With five unbeaten matches under the belt, CF Montreal have defense as one of the cornerstones of a confident run. They were well ahead with an 11-4 aggregate in these five games. Throughout this period, they had almost an impenetrable defense, with two successive clean sheets against Chicago Fire FC and San Jose Earthquakes. What's more, the team won three in a row for the first time since July and shows a great deal about how much they have grown going into the last stretch of the season.
The mission is clear for Montréal: a win against Charlotte added to either one of DC United's or Philadelphia Union's slip-ups and the deal would be sealed for playoff qualification. If the win is beyond them, then a draw could well be sufficient, given their rivals equally drop points in their respective matches. It is that kind of scenario where any mistake can cost dear, and Montréal know it.
The fact that they started that undefeated streak against this very same Charlotte FC team, with a 2-1 win at Stade Saputo back in September, has surely given them an added psychological edge. Caden Clark and Bryce Duke shone that day as head coach Laurent Courtois now hopes his team can replicate that exact intensity.
The numbers and history are on the side of Montréal too
CF Montréal has been a thorn in the side of Charlotte FC since they joined MLS. Traveling to Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, the visitors arrive in town with some belief in their camp, knowing they have never lost there with a 4-0-1 record in head-to-head matchups. In the overall record, Bleu-blanc-noir also won both encounters this season, thus giving them a psychological advantage.
With that, the fact that this is Montréal's last away game of the season, the stakes are only higher for them: a win would grant them some peace of mind going into the final round, while defeat may see everything wide open and give them unwanted pressure on the last matchday.
For Montreal, it's not only the playoff spot that's at stake but also the possibility of maintaining a strong defense against Charlotte's dangerous attack, with Swiderski on great level and with three of his team's last five goals.