FC Cincinnati vs Montréal

Two teams desperate for a win meet at TQL Stadium on Saturday. FC Cincinnati and CF Montréal have managed just one victory each from four MLS outings, and neither side can afford to let early-season drift become a habit. It has been a brutal stretch for Cincinnati. They were dramatically eliminated from the Champions Cup after blowing a 3-0 first-leg lead against Tigres, conceding a 98th-minute winner in a stunning 5-1 second-leg collapse. Three straight MLS defeats — including a 6-1 hammering at New England — have the hosts desperate to turn things around. Montréal arrive mid-road-trip, having also won just once in four. Captain Prince Owusu has two goals already and his physicality will test Cincinnati's backline, but injuries to Giacomo Vrioni and several defenders thin the visitors' options considerably. Cincinnati's dominant head-to-head record — three straight wins over Montréal — and a return to TQL Stadium should provide a much-needed lift. Expect Evander and Kévin Denkey to lead the fightback. Our prediction: 2-1