Montreal second in the East to start the season
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact will play its 10th game of the 2019 season and second at home, this Sunday, April 28, at 12:30pm at Stade Saputo (TVA Sports, 98.5, TSN 690). Excellent tickets remain available at impactmontreal.com.
“There is satisfaction in the pretty good work we have done so far and to have done what we needed to do during this sequence of games,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “We have to keep a clear mind regarding this situation, as the road is long. For the moment, we made it pleasant, despite a few potholes on the way, but we didn’t burst a tire, we bounced back right away. We showed a more mature collective desire.”
Stade Saputo’s West gates will open very early, as of 10:30am, allowing you to take advantage of the spring weather. From 10:30am to 11:30am, the 2-for-1 special on all drinks will be in place, and animations, numerous activities, and photobooths will be available beneath the stands. Video game enthusiasts can try their luck against LyesMTL, the Impact’s eSports player in the BMO Celebration Zone, on FIFA 19 on PS4. Finally, a new pregame ritual, during which supporters will be able to welcome players in the stadium’s North stand, will take place as of 11am, 90 minutes before kickoff.
The MLS bag policy will be in place for this game. Backpacks, camera bags, and big tote bags, as well as any bag larger than 35cm x 35cm x 15cm will not be accepted inside the stadium.
Also, please note that more traffic than usual is to be expected in the Sherbrooke/Pie-IX/Pierre-de-Coubertin/Viau area, as well as to access the different parking lots around Stade Saputo due to various reasons. The Viau metro station is undergoing an important renovation project. Construction on the new bus rapid transit corridor (BRT) on Pie-IX Boulevard has begun, and as such, traffic on Pie-IX between the A40 and Pierre-de-Coubertin Street will be impeded, while bus routes may be diverted. The P1, P2, P3, P4 parking lots are available. The P5 parking lot is reserved for members with a parking pass.
Three points from first in the East
With 14 points in nine games this season, Montreal is ranked second in the East, despite playing eight of its first nine games on the road. The Impact is just three points away from D.C. United, in sole possession of first.
At home, the Impact is unbeaten in its last seven games, its last loss coming on July 28, 2018, against Atlanta United. Rémi Garde’s men have accumulated five wins during this sequence and will play 16 of their last 25 games of the 2019 season at home.
Goalkeeper Evan Bush, ranked second in MLS with four clean sheets, is three saves away from reaching the 500-mark with the Impact in the regular reason, already leading the club in that category.
The Impact has an excellent record at home against the Fire, with six wins, two losses, two draws, and 16 goals scored in 10 games. Striker Maxi Urruti, on his end, has scored one goal in three career games against the Fire, while Daniel Lovitz handed his team the win last year with his first MLS goal against the Chicagoans.
“Chicago is a dangerous team that has good attacking pieces,” said defender Daniel Lovitz. “It will depend on what they want to do on the road, but we are focused on this game. We respect them and we know they are a good team, but we see ourselves in the same light. We will control what we can control and we will ready to host this team at home.”
Designated Player Nacho Piatti is getting better and even if Garde admitted that he won’t be a starter Sunday, he reintegrated the group in training and could even feature on the bench. Midfielders Saphir Taïder and Harry Novillo will be available for this game.
Good spell for the Fire
Veljko Paunovic and his men have picked things up as of late, having lost just one of their last five games. If Designated Player Bastian Schweinsteiger has taken a step back, occupying now the role of centre-back, the Fire recruited a new Designated Player, Argentine Nicolás Gaitán, the former Benfica and Atlético Madrid man, who’s already added two assists in four games. Strikers CJ Sapong, with four goals, and Nemanja Nikolic, with three, are a constant threat up front. However, in three away games, the Fire has amassed just one point, and head coach Paunovic, sent off during his team’s last game against NYCFC, won’t be on the touchline Sunday. Former Impact player Raheem Edwards is out with a knee injury, as well as forward Fabian Herbers, while midfielder Aleksandar Katai’s status is doubtful.
“In the context of three games in a week, there is a rotation that can be made and everyone is ready to perform at a very high level,” said forward Anthony Jackson-Hamel. We showed a lot of character to get a 3-0 win Wednesday. We are second in the East and the teams around the league will be well prepared for us.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will play a second consecutive game at home on Saturday, May 4, at 5pm against New York City FC (TICKETS – TVA Sports, TSN 690) to kick off another busy week, with three games in eight days; Montreal will then face the Big Apple’s other team, the New York Red Bulls, at Red Bull Arena on May 8 at 8pm (TVA Sports, 98.5, TSN 690), before visiting FC Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium for the first time on Saturday, May 11, at 1pm (TVA Sports, TSN, 98.5, TSN 690).
