Bleu-blanc-noir looking for revenge after loss at Gillette Stadium
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact will play its second game at Stade Saputo this season, this Saturday afternoon at 1pm against the New England Revolution (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690). Excellent tickets remain available on impactmontreal.com.
“We’re facing a physical team,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “They have speed up top with Cristian Penilla and raw strength with Teal Bunbury. They also have technical players like Diego Fagúndez. But we also have those types of players and we’ll be looking to win this game.”
IMFC Summer is back as soon as the doors open at 11am. Our 2-for-1 special on all drinks will be available until noon and a DJ, accompanied by a host, will set the atmosphere. Also, by arriving early, supporters will be able to take advantage of multiple activities offered by our partners.
The MLS bag policy will be enforced during the game. Also, backpacks, camera bags, big tote bags, as well as any bag bigger than 35 cm x 35 cm x 15 cm will not be accepted inside the stadium.
Also take note that a large amount of traffic is expected in the Sherbrooke/Pie-IX/Pierre-de-Couberton/Viau square. The Impact strongly suggests using public transportation to get to Stade Saputo and to exit at Viau metro station. Whoever arrives by car is welcome to use parking P1, on Pierre-de-Coubertin, P3, on Pie-IX, and P4, on Sherbrooke.
Encouraging signs
Although the Bleu-blanc-noir is currently on a four-game losing streak, the team scored the opening goal in its two last games and held on against Atlanta’s powerful offense, in Mercedes-Ben Stadium, for 70 minutes last week. Those are the positive points on which the Impact will have to build in order to come out victorious and avenge its 4-0 loss at Gillette Stadium on April 6.
“When we’re at home, we feel like we can keep the ball better and control the pace of the game,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “It’s the road to take after last week’s game. If we look at passing and possession stats, we feel like we’ll have a little bit more control of the game. We want to control the pace a little bit more, but we also need to be careful.”
Against the Boston representatives, Montreal has a record of four wins, four losses and a draw at home, although the Bleu-blanc-noir has lost its last five games against the Revs.
If he features in the game, Nacho Piatti will become the third Impact player to reach 100 games played in MLS. He’s still one assist away from the club record, held by Patrice Bernier, who earned 25 assists in his MLS career.
Reinforcements in central defense
Center-back Víctor Cabrera, suspended last week, will be at Rémi Garde’s disposal for the game; Rod Fanni, on his end, was back in training this week and should also be available. Reinforcements in this position come at a good time; the Impact has conceded 16 goals in its last four games.
“We must always keep working, through the difficult and good times,” said center-back Rod Fanni. “During a stretch like this, it’s mostly working and accepting criticism. We need to be responsible. When things get better, then we can accept our praises.”
Upcoming games
The Impact continues its busy week with a trip to Chicago to face the Fire at Toyota Park on Wednesday, May 9 at 8:30pm (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690), before coming back to Stade Saputo to face the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, May 12 at 3pm (TICKETS – TVA Sports, CTV, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690).
