CF Montreal vs Chicago Fire FC – Match Preview

Major League Soccer action resumes at Saputo Stadium with CF Montreal hosting Chicago Fire FC. This Round 1 clash is set for Friday, September 21st, kicking off at 23:30 GMT. Both teams are looking to improve their standings after facing recent challenges. Montreal is 25th with 31 points from 29 games. Chicago Fire is right behind in 26th place, with 29 points from 30 matches. This game is a crucial opportunity for both sides to advance and gain momentum.

CF Montreal – Form

CF Montreal’s recent performances have been inconsistent. Their latest game against New England Revolution on September 18, 2024, ended in a 2:2 draw. This result was unexpected according to bookmakers. Before this, they faced a 4:1 defeat against FC Cincinnati. Kwadwo Opoku scored the only goal for Montreal. In their last home game, they lost 0:5 to New England Revolution, despite being slight favorites. These outcomes matched bookmakers’ predictions.

Chicago Fire FC – Form

Chicago Fire FC has also shown mixed results recently. Their latest game on September 19, 2024, ended in a 1-0 defeat to Nashville SC. This outcome was anticipated by bookmakers. Before this, they lost 2-1 at home to DC United, despite being slight favorites. Andrew Gutman scored their only goal. Their game against Inter Miami CF ended in a 4-1 defeat at Soldier Field. Georgios Koutsias scored the consolation goal for Chicago.

CF Montreal – Chicago Fire FC – Head to Head

The last encounter between these teams was on March 16, 2024. Chicago Fire FC secured a 4:3 victory. In their past 10 matchups, CF Montreal has won 5 times, while Chicago Fire FC has 3 victories. The remaining 2 games ended in draws. This record shows a slight advantage for the home side. In the last five head-to-head clashes, both teams scored on three occasions. CF Montreal has a strong record at Saputo Stadium, not losing any of their last 6 home matches against Chicago Fire FC. They have scored in 9 out of their last 11 matches against Chicago Fire FC. Furthermore, 6 of the last 8 home matches against Chicago Fire FC had fewer than 3.5 total goals.

CF Montreal – Chicago Fire FC – Standings

As the match unfolds at Saputo Stadium, both teams are in a critical position. Montreal is 25th with 31 points from 29 matches. Chicago Fire FC is just behind in 26th place, with 29 points from 30 games. Both sides have not met their preseason expectations. With only a two-point gap between them, this match is pivotal for their league standings. The pressure is on for both teams to move up the table.

CF Montreal vs Chicago Fire FC – Top scorers

For the home team, Sunusi Ibrahim leads the attack with 6 goals this season. Josef Martinez follows closely with 5 goals. Matias Coccaro has added 4 goals. The midfield duo of Bryce Duke and Dominik Yankov have scored 3 and 2 goals, respectively. This adds depth to Montreal’s offense.

The away team’s top scorer is Hugo Cuypers, with an impressive 10 goals. Midfielder Brian Gutierrez has scored 6 goals. Maren Haile-Selassie has contributed 5 goals from midfield. Kellyn Acosta and Fabian Herbers have each scored 2 goals, highlighting the team’s diverse offensive threat.

CF Montreal vs Chicago Fire FC – Full-Time Betting

Bookmakers predict a close match at Saputo Stadium. The odds are 2.45 for a CF Montreal win, 3.30 for a draw, and 2.80 for a Chicago Fire FC victory. CF Montreal is slightly favored, likely due to their strong home record and past successes against Chicago Fire FC. Injuries and suspensions could impact the game, but the current form suggests a tight match with a slight edge for CF Montreal.

For alternative betting markets, the “halftime-fulltime” option offers odds of 2.875 for CF Montreal leading at the half. The “draw-no-bet” market gives CF Montreal backers a safety net at 1.727. The “double-chance” market provides coverage for a CF Montreal win or draw at 1.4. These options cater to bettors looking for higher rewards or those seeking to reduce risk.

CF Montreal vs Chicago Fire FC – Over/Under Betting

The “Over 2.5” goals option is priced at 1.60, indicating an expectation of at least three goals. However, with 6 of the last 8 matches at CF Montreal’s home against Chicago Fire FC having fewer than 3.5 goals, the “Under 3.5” goals option at 1.533 could be appealing. CF Montreal’s recent matches have often featured over 2.5 goals. In contrast, Chicago Fire FC’s last away game suggested a lower-scoring match. The “Under 2.5” goals option at 2.30 could offer value, considering both teams’ defensive issues and their standings.

CF Montreal vs Chicago Fire FC – BTTS Betting

The odds for both teams to score are 1.50 for “Yes” and 2.50 for “No.” In the last 10 head-to-head matches, both teams scored in 5 games. CF Montreal’s recent home games saw both teams scoring in 2 out of 5 matches. Chicago Fire FC’s recent away games had both teams scoring in 2 out of 5 matches as well. Given the tendency of both teams to concede and the historical record, “BTTS: Yes” at 1.50 is a likely outcome for this fixture.

CF Montreal vs Chicago Fire FC – Prediction