With their chances of making the MLS Cup playoffs hanging by a thread, CF Montreal are set to host Austin FC on Saturday at Saputo Stadium.

A 1-1 draw against DC United lifted Montreal off the bottom of the Eastern Conference, while Austin sit eighth in the Western Conference after playing out the same result at home against FC Dallas.

Montreal have picked up points in three of their last five league games at home, but have scored one or fewer goals in seven consecutive games at the Saputo Stadium.

They have beaten Texas-based MLS teams in their last two meetings but have not won a home game against a Texas side since a 2-0 success over Houston Dynamo in November 2021.

The two sides have not faced each other since March 2023, when Austin ran out 1-0 victors.

Montreal's new signing, Matty Longstaff, made his debut for the club against DC United last Saturday, and he was immediately struck by the talent and potential within the squad.

"It's about me trying to perform for Montreal. I am a Montreal player now, and I want to get back to winning ways with the club," Longstaff said. 

"I want to try and have success here and win things, so that's my main focus here.

"Here at Montreal, it is a younger group, but there are still leaders within that, and it's such a talented group.

"In training over the last few days, you see the qualities they have going forward. I'm looking forward to training a bit more with them."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CF Montreal – Prince Owusu

Prince Owusu has been in impressive form this season, with the forward leading his team's slim hopes of reaching the postseason. 

The German forward provided the assist for Montreal's only goal in their match against D.C. United, marking his 15th goal involvement of the season (11 goals and four assists), which is nine more than the second-highest contributor, Dante Sealy (six).

Austin FC – Owen Wolff

Wolff netted Austin's only goal in their draw against FC Dallas on Saturday, marking his third goal in his last four regular-season games.

Prior to this recent scoring streak, Wolff had endured a 27-match goal drought in the league that stretched back to September 2024. 

MATCH PREDICTION: AUSTIN FC

Austin have gone six games without a loss across all competitions (two wins and four draws), their longest unbeaten streak since a club-record seven-match run between June and July 2022, which featured a win against Montreal.

Montreal, meanwhile, have enjoyed a revival at a crucial stage of the season. They have now avoided defeat in three straight matches for the first time this season (W1 D2), while conceding only once in each of those three matches.

But Austin have often had the better of this fixture. They won each of their previous two meetings with Montreal, recording 1-0 victories at home in June 2022 and in Montreal in March 2023.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY:

CF Montreal – 34.0%

Draw – 25.8%

Austin FC – 40.2%