NYCFC vs CF Montréal preview: Goals and three points, please | OneFootball

The biggest story before New York City FC plays their next game is that Head Coach Pascal Jansen will not be with the team.  Per the club, he is in Europe for personal reasons but did not disclose further information.  As such, the Boys in Blue must face their fellow blue side, CF Montréal, without the gaffer.  Mehdi Ballouchy, who will step in as the head coach this weekend, said they were in contact with Jansen and that he is very involved.

Still, NYCFC has to win on the road without their coach, and also try to avoid a sweep by the struggling CF Montréal.  They lost at home in the opposite fixture, so the Pigeons will seek to return the favor by winning on the road.  In addition, the team does not want to lose three in a row against Montréal since they also lost to them on Decision Day.

That is why this will be another critical game for NYCFC.  They will be without a few players due to injury and international duty, so the players will need to step up like they did against Atlanta United FC.  It might help, though, that while the Bronx side was one of Montréal’s three wins, the team up north has not won at home.

It is not impossible for the Pigeons to win.  Let’s look at the preview of NYCFC’s match against CF Montréal.

NYCFC vs CF Montréal preview

Date

NYCFC and Montréal will play one another on Saturday, June 28.

Time

The game will begin at 7:30 PM ET.

Location

The fixture will take place at Stade Saputo in Montréal, Québec in Canada

How to watch

Fans can watch the match on the MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Weather

It will not be the nicest evening, but thankfully, the worst of the rain and storms will be gone.  It will still rain, with about a 50% chance of showers when the game kicks off.  But it could be done by the end.  It will be around 73 degrees, but it will not be the most comfortable due to the high humidity.

Injury report

Malachi Jones (leg) and Keaton Parks (leg) are both unavailable due to injury.  Matt Freese and Alonso Martínez are missing due to international duty.

Players to watch

Jonathan Shore is the player to watch for NYCFC.  The young midfielder has had a solid season thus far for the Pigeons and can play as a central midfielder and central defensive midfielder.  His versatility allows him to move throughout the midfield and be utilized where he is needed most.  It will be interesting to see how he is used on Saturday and whether he can be influential defensively.

On Montréal, Jonathan Sirois is the player to watch.  He has not had the best time as of late, for he has allowed 20 goals in the last seven Major League Soccer matches.  As such, fans should pay attention to see what he does against the Pigeons.  Can he improve?  Or will he and his backline’s recent struggles allow the visitors to strike often?

Prediction

The road can be a difficult place, but NYCFC should earn all three points.  It is predicted that the Pigeons will win 3-0, picking up where they left off against Atlanta.  Hannes Wolf will continue to shine, while Shore and Aiden O’Neill will have great performances for the team.