CF Montreal vs Toronto FC is one of the biggest games of the season - our soccer writer makes his picks and predictions ahead of this weekend's match...
The Canadian Classique is upon us once again, with Toronto FC making their way to Stade Saputo on July 17.
In the MLS, the last three matches between TFC and FC Montréal have been split with a win each and a tie.
However, at the end of June, the two met in the Canadian Championship Semi-Finals, which did not go well for the former L’Impact.
Toronto routed the visitors 4-0, smashing any pre-game expectations based on MLS performances to date.
MLS Betting Picks: FC Montréal vs Toronto FC
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Over 2.5 Goals (-175)
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Jesús Jiménez to Score First/Last (+600/+600)
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Romell Quioto to Score First (+390)
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CF Montréal -1 (+165)
Here, we’re looking at the soccer betting markets and odds for the first MLS Canadian Classique of the 2022 campaign.
CF Montréal enter the match fourth in the Eastern Conference, while Toronto FC trail them by ten points.
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Plenty of opportunities to score for both teams
If there’s one aspect that’s been going terribly wrong for both Canadian sides this season, it’s defence.
TFC have conceded the 3rd most goals (38), the 2nd most shots against (111), and are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league. CFMTL may be much higher in the table but have conceded 35 goals themselves.
Bundle in that Montréal are the fourth-highest goal scorers in the MLS (33) – 32 of which are from within 18 yards – have the second-worst save percentage (54%) despite having the 7th fewest shots against (76), and that Toronto has the highest shooting percentage (41.9%), and you have a game that should see plenty of goals.
As such, it looks to be an exciting match, particularly if Montréal are out to avenge the Canadian Championship humiliation against a tired Toronto. So, over 2.5 goals at -175 looks good, and +140 for over 3.5 goals will intrigue some punters.
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Top goalscorers to get their chances
Even though it was Ayo Akinola who nailed the brace in the 4-0 drubbing, Jesús Jiménez is the more assured striker for Toronto FC, scoring eight in 19 MLS games.
In the total eight games that he’s scored in for TFC this season, three have been the first goals of the game, and two have been the last goals, putting him right in the crosshairs of the goalscorers sports betting markets.
The Spanish sniper is at +600 to score first or last in the odds. On the other side of the pitch, all eyes are on striker Romell Quioto, whose skill and desire to take on defenders will surely give him chances in this game.
With seven goals in 17 MLS games so far, the Honduran is out at +390 to score first. Both of the last two times that he scored in the MLS (vs Charlotte and Kansas City) were the first goals of the respective games.
Fancy footwork & the finish! ✨
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 17, 2022
Osorio sets up Jimenez for a brilliant @TorontoFC effort. pic.twitter.com/2XL7CqBMaZ
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Montréal to win comfortably
Bob Bradley may have a perfect 3-0-0 record against CF Montréal, and the 4-0 will be in the minds of the players, but a lot is going against Toronto in this one.
Most pressingly, Toronto are in the midst of a road trip, having been beaten into submission 2-0 by the Chicago Fire on Wednesday. Montréal’s last game was a tough 2-1 loss to Kansas City, but it was on Saturday.
This, along with the strengths of Montréal that match up so well with the glaring weaknesses of Toronto’s defence, would signal a solid win for the home side. CF Montréal to win -1 is at +165 on the spread.
13' BUT MTL 🔔🔔🔔
— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) July 9, 2022
QUIOTOOOOOOOOOOOOO#MTLvSKC | 1-0 | #CFMTL pic.twitter.com/FMwOS0U3lt
The first Canadian Classique of the 2022 MLS has the makings of a good battle to watch as a neutral, but perhaps a much more nervous one for Canadian fans on either side.
*Credit for all images in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 14th July 2022
