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CF Montreal v Los Angeles FC: Visitors in final MLS test before 'incredibly exciting' America play-off

CF Montreal v Los Angeles FC: Visitors in final MLS test before 'incredibly exciting' America play-off

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Although LAFC have a huge match on the horizon, they are determined to focus on one game at a time, with CF Montreal next.

Los Angeles FC face CF Montreal on Saturday before turning their attention to the "honour" of a Club World Cup play-off against Club America.

Following Club Leon's removal from FIFA's new showpiece tournament due to a breach of multi-club ownership rules, world football's governing body has worked to identify a replacement.

LAFC and America have been selected for a play-off match to battle for a berth in the World Cup, with the date set for May 31.

"It'll be an honour for us to play in it," said LAFC general manager John Thorrington.

"LAFC has been involved in a lot of big games in our somewhat short history, and we're incredibly excited."

This mammoth match comes in a testing period for LAFC, with head coach Steve Cherundolo having announced he will be leaving at the end of the season.

But Thorrington insisted recent weeks have "not been a whirlwind" and suggested Cherundolo's decision had had a "galvanising" effect on the team as they "chase success on all fronts".

However, he said: "For us, as a club, it's about the next game."

That next game is against Montreal, where LAFC will be looking to return to winning ways after Cherundolo described the "pure disappointment" of last week's El Trafico draw with the LA Galaxy.

The coach added: "We can't lose sight of the journey we're on for the entire season. The steps we've made as a group have been very positive. We're on a good path."

LAFC certainly look to be on a better path than Montreal, who come into this game having followed up a 6-1 derby defeat to Toronto FC by losing to Forge FC in the Canadian Championship.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CF Montreal – Fernando Alvarez

Joel Waterman's red card against Toronto set in motion one of the most miserable matches in Montreal history, with young defender Alvarez the unfortunate substitute who was introduced to attempt to plug a gaping hole.

LAFC are hardly likely to be more forgiving opponents, but Alvarez may have more opportunity to impress in a full XI as Montreal look to fix their awful defensive issues.

LAFC – Denis Bouanga

One of the men Alvarez may be tasked with stopping is Bouanga, but that is much easier said than done.

His run of contributing a goal involvement in seven straight matches is the best such sequence in MLS this season, while only Carlos Vela and Mateusz Bogusz have ever enjoyed better streaks in LAFC history.

MATCH PREDICTION: LAFC WIN

LAFC have won their only two previous meetings with Montreal, and the Canadian side would have been in better fettle going into those matches than this one.

Montreal are one of only seven teams in MLS to have one win or fewer through 14 matches, while the Toronto rout continued a concerning trend, with that their fourth defeat by five or more goals since the start of the 2023 season.

Meanwhile, LAFC are unbeaten in seven matches since their elimination from the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

CF Montreal – 23.4%

Draw – 22.5%

LAFC – 54.1%

CF Montreal v Los Angeles FC: Visitors in final MLS test before 'incredibly exciting' America play-off

Although LAFC have a huge match on the horizon, they are determined to focus on one game at a time, with CF Montreal next.

Los Angeles FC face CF Montreal on Saturday before turning their attention to the "honour" of a Club World Cup play-off against Club America.

Following Club Leon's removal from FIFA's new showpiece tournament due to a breach of multi-club ownership rules, world football's governing body has worked to identify a replacement.

LAFC and America have been selected for a play-off match to battle for a berth in the World Cup, with the date set for May 31.

"It'll be an honour for us to play in it," said LAFC general manager John Thorrington.

"LAFC has been involved in a lot of big games in our somewhat short history, and we're incredibly excited."

This mammoth match comes in a testing period for LAFC, with head coach Steve Cherundolo having announced he will be leaving at the end of the season.

But Thorrington insisted recent weeks have "not been a whirlwind" and suggested Cherundolo's decision had had a "galvanising" effect on the team as they "chase success on all fronts".

However, he said: "For us, as a club, it's about the next game."

That next game is against Montreal, where LAFC will be looking to return to winning ways after Cherundolo described the "pure disappointment" of last week's El Trafico draw with the LA Galaxy.

The coach added: "We can't lose sight of the journey we're on for the entire season. The steps we've made as a group have been very positive. We're on a good path."

LAFC certainly look to be on a better path than Montreal, who come into this game having followed up a 6-1 derby defeat to Toronto FC by losing to Forge FC in the Canadian Championship.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CF Montreal – Fernando Alvarez

Joel Waterman's red card against Toronto set in motion one of the most miserable matches in Montreal history, with young defender Alvarez the unfortunate substitute who was introduced to attempt to plug a gaping hole.

LAFC are hardly likely to be more forgiving opponents, but Alvarez may have more opportunity to impress in a full XI as Montreal look to fix their awful defensive issues.

LAFC – Denis Bouanga

One of the men Alvarez may be tasked with stopping is Bouanga, but that is much easier said than done.

His run of contributing a goal involvement in seven straight matches is the best such sequence in MLS this season, while only Carlos Vela and Mateusz Bogusz have ever enjoyed better streaks in LAFC history.

MATCH PREDICTION: LAFC WIN

LAFC have won their only two previous meetings with Montreal, and the Canadian side would have been in better fettle going into those matches than this one.

Montreal are one of only seven teams in MLS to have one win or fewer through 14 matches, while the Toronto rout continued a concerning trend, with that their fourth defeat by five or more goals since the start of the 2023 season.

Meanwhile, LAFC are unbeaten in seven matches since their elimination from the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

CF Montreal – 23.4%

Draw – 22.5%

LAFC – 54.1%

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