D.C. United coach Troy Lesesne is hoping to build on his side's unbeaten start to the season as they host CF Montreal in their fourth MLS outing of the year on Saturday. 

D.C. edged Sporting Kansas City 2-1 to register their first win of the campaign last time out after beginning their campaign with draws against Chicago Fire and Toronto FC, and they sit fifth in the Eastern Conference with five points.

"The last five, six seasons for D.C., the energy and the momentum hasn’t been where it needs to be," Lesene said.

"And so, we feel a tremendous responsibility as a staff and this group of players to start to turn that energy around and make the energy a little more contagious from a positive side.

"At the beginning of this year, you can see us continuing to build and add different pieces to the puzzle, not only individually, but as a team.

"And so, we’re open to continuing to replicate performances like [the one against Kansas City] and I think we’ve been pretty consistent over the three weeks.

"I think we’re going to be fun to watch as we keep building.”

Their opponents Montreal, meanwhile, are yet to open their account and sit bottom of the Eastern Conference. 

Their latest defeat came against the Vancouver Whitecaps last Sunday, while they were also beaten by Minnesota United and Atlanta United.

Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois, however, is hopeful that his side have the strength to bounce back after a slow start.

“We trust how we work, we know where we’re strong,” Cortois said. 

“Then there’s the reality of results, and it’s been three matches where, even if I see positives collectively, we’ve had one or two players having an off-game and that’s cost the team.

"But it's really, really satisfying the way that we know that when we are on the same page, what we try to do on the board works as long as we are composed, decided and not hesitant.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

D.C. United – Christian Benteke 

Benteke is the first D.C. United player to score in each of the team’s first three matches of a season since Roy Lassiter in 1999. 

And he will be hoping to become the first D.C. player to score in the first four matches of a season by getting on the scoresheet against Montreal. The former Belgium striker scored 23 goals in 30 league appearances last season. 

CF Montreal – Prince Owusu
 
Montreal's new signing Owusu enjoyed a dream debut with a goal and an assist in their opener against Atlanta United.  

The 28-year-old German striker scored nine league goals for Toronto during the 2024 campaign.

MATCH PREDICTION – D.C. UNITED WIN

Dating back to July 2017, the last 16 meetings between D.C. United and CF Montreal have been split, with each side winning six times and drawing four. 

The last six meetings between the teams in D.C. have seen each team win twice and play out two draws while scoring eight goals each.

D.C. are unbeaten through three matches of a season for the second straight season, winning once and drawing twice both times.

Montreal, meanwhile, have lost their first three matches of a season for the third time in the last four seasons.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

D.C. United – 46.4%

CF Montreal – 27.1%

Draw – 26.5%