The Canadian Classique is upon us once again, with plenty on the line for both MLS sides on September 4.
After CF Montreal defended home turf to the tune of 1-0, they have the upper hand on the season.
However, this isn’t the same Toronto FC that met them at Saputo Stadium, transforming after the signings of two Italian internationals to begin to clamber up the standings.
The East has been fun to watch. 🎢 pic.twitter.com/ADubnReS4O
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 1, 2022
MLS Betting Picks: Toronto FC vs CF Montréal
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Over 2.5 Goals (-167)
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Half-Time Double Chance (Toronto or Montréal) (-188)
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Result to be a Tie and Both Teams to Score (+300)
CFMTL will look to get back on track after a surprise loss last time out and extend their away winning streak, while The Reds have to see this Canadian Classique as a must-win after dropping two points late to LA Galaxy.
Here’s what the soccer odds are leaning towards coming into this MLS clash.
Plenty of goals in the Canadian Classique
By bringing in Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, Toronto FC has been able to enhance its attacking threat greatly. In nine appearances each, the Italian duo have combined for ten goals and five assists.
Both have hit the ground running, being pivotal to The Reds’ home results of a 4-0 win, 3-1 win, and two 2-2 ties since making their debuts against Charlotte FC. Bernardeschi is already the team’s third-top scorer.
CF Montréal, on the other hand, recently had their eight-game unbeaten streak snapped at home, but still has an impressive away run on the go.
The Quebec-based club has won each of its last four on the road, securing victories of 2-0 against the Chicago Fire most recently, which followed a 3-2 win in Houston and two other 2-1 triumphs.
Toronto is now a formidable opponent, even with Mark-Anthony Kaye and Jonathan Osorio questionable to play in this one. While Montréal has been winning on the road, the games are usually tight.
It might be more hopeful for this to be a thrilling end-to-end game, but the piece are in place, and the odds are certainly leaning towards there being goals. Right now, the game to see over 2.5 goals is at -167.
Thrills in the first 45 minutes of Toronto FC vs CF Montréal
If there’s one thing that we can draw from the most recent outings of both teams, it’s that they tend to see goals in the first half.
Three of Toronto’s last five games have seen a side go into half-time ahead, and four of Montréal’s have seen a first-half winner – which could have been five if Romell Quioto scored his second penalty of the first half away to the Houston Dynamo.
Toronto will need to go on the front foot with their postseason window closing quickly, and Montréal notoriously has one of the worst defensive records among Eastern Conference contenders – but still pose a potent offensive threat.
As such, one of the teams to be up at the 45-minute mark looks to align in the odds. As it stands, the betting pages have the odds for Toronto or Montréal to be ahead at half-time in the half-time double-chance market at -188.
A lot on the line in Toronto FC vs CF Montréal
CF Montréal just saw their eight-game unbeaten streak snapped by some stubborn travellers, the New York Red Bulls. Strong on the road, New York ousted the Montréal attack throughout, despite the 67 percent possession for the Canadian club.
Still, CFMTL can enjoy the luxury of sitting second in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand on leaders Philadelphia Union.
Form is everything going into the playoffs, though, and Montréal won’t want to lose its menacing away run against their Canadian rivals.
For Toronto, it’s getting desperate. After seeing a former FC Barcelona prospect fire in an 89th-minute snipe to turn a 2-1 win into a tie, the side’s playoff hopes faded just a little bit more.
This is despite their MLS record of four wins, three ties, and only one loss since the Italians took to the field.
Montréal has six games left now, so there’s time to regain form and finish on a high. Toronto is one game ahead and two points back of teams with a game in hand sitting in the postseason places.
With both teams playing well, Toronto having a little more on the line, but Montréal still needing to guarantee a top spot, perhaps a stalemate will be the end result, with a tie and both teams to score at +300.
"It's not like you go in and say, ‘is our confidence wavering?’ Nobody thinks like that. We go ready for the next game, try to take three points on Sunday"
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) September 1, 2022
Toronto FC vs CF Montréal looks to be a great match with plenty on the line. Will Toronto keep their playoff hopes alive, or will CFMTL hold firm for a demoralizing win in the Canadian Classique?
*Credit for all images in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 2nd September 2022
