MONTREAL – After three straight games away from home, the Montreal Impact finally returns to Stade Saputo this Saturday afternoon. The Bleu-blanc-noir hosts Atlanta United at 1pm EDT (TVA Sports [pregame show at 12:30pm], CTV, TSN5, 98,5FM [pregame show at 12:30pm] & TSN Radio 690 [pregame show at 12pm]). Excellent tickets are still available here.
“What’s important for our team is to go and get full points,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “We’re focused on what we need to do against a good team. We want to come out and put together a good performance in front of our fans and start off our schedule at Stade Saputo on the right foot.”
The Impact recommends that supporters use public transit and get to the stadium early – doors open at 11:30am. Due to transformation work at the corner of Pie-IX Blvd. and Sherbrooke St., traffic delays may occur in the Olympic Park area.
As always, the MLS Bag Policy will be in effect. All backpacks, camera bags and large tote bags, as well as all bags bigger than 35 cm x 35 cm x 15 cm are prohibited.
Please also note that parking entrances have changed names since last season. Entrance PB is now called P5 (orange), while entrance PA has made way for entrances P1, P2 & P4 (yellow).
A first against Atlanta
The Impact returns to Stade Saputo to take on expansion club Atlanta United after a complicated start to the season. The Bleu-blanc-noir has thus far played four games on the road and only one at the Olympic Stadium, back in March.
“This is the first game at Stade Saputo, so we want to do well,” said Nacho Piatti. “We’re taking on a good team led by the great coach that is Tata Martino. It was tough for us to play four of our first five games away from home, but we’re ready to correct the mistakes that we’ve made.”
While the Impact has never faced Atlanta United, other clubs from the Georgia capital city have. During its time in the North American second division, the Bleu-blanc-noir has kept positive records against the Ruckus (eight wins in nine games from 1995 to 1998) and the Silverbacks (14 wins in 20 games from 2002 to 2008 and in 2011).
Goalkeeper Evan Bush kept a clean sheet for his last game against Atlanta, an Impact win in 2011. Hassoun Camara was a teammate of Bush’s at the time and scored one goal in three games against Atlanta. Head coach Mauro Biello, during his playing career, scored four goals and assisted two more against Atlanta clubs.
This Saturday, the Impact will have to make do without midfielder Marco Donadel, who was harshly sent off at Los Angeles last Friday. The club unsuccessfully appealed to get the red card overturned.
Fantastic start for expansion team Atlanta
In its first season in MLS, Atlanta United has had a thundering start. Led by Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino – a manager at FC Barcelona and for the Argentina and Paraguay national teams in recent years –, Atlanta currently sits in third position in the Eastern Conference, has yet to lose away from home and has been scoring 2.6 goals per game on average.
“This team has been bringing something different to what we usually see in MLS,” said Hassoun Camara. “Their play has been spectacular. But we’re going to focus on ourselves. Both teams will want to play with the ball, but we’re determined to get that first win at Stade Saputo.”
Atlanta has built a solid offence with Designated Players Josef Martínez (five goals), Héctor Villalba (three goals and an assist) and Miguel Almirón (two goals and three assists). Its defence led by captain Michael Parkhurst hasn’t disappointed, either, with only five goals conceded – three of which came away from home.
Martínez will be unavailable this Saturday as he is still recovering from a quad injury. Sent off at Toronto, midfielder Yamil Asad will be suspended.
Following games
The Impact will play its second game at Stade Saputo this season on Saturday, April 29, at 3pm EDT against Vancouver Whitecaps FC (TVA Sports, CTV, 98,5FM & TSN Radio 690). Excellent tickets for this game, as well as season tickets and mini season packages, are still available on impactmontreal.com. In the meantime, the Bleu-blanc-noir will play away from home again next Saturday, April 22, when it takes on the Union in Philadelphia at 1pm (TVA Sports, 98,5FM & TSN Radio 690).
