Prep for Piatti?
Last season, Ignacio Piatti carried the attacking burden for Montreal Impact. Saphir Taider and Alejandro Silva helped out a bit, but it was the Piatti show and everybody knew it.
Piatti has been struggling to stay on the field this year, but somehow the Impact have gone 2-2-2 on the road thus far and that's a good traveling return in MLS. Interestingly, Montreal has been scoring without creating many big chances. They shoot from distance and play strong defense.
Back line play big
Remi Garde turned around the Impact's 2018 year by dropping his back line and countering using his big names up front. That has continued this year, and Montreal has not given up a goal since the 84th minute of their 7-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City. In that match, they were chaotically disorganized, and Garde has responded by turning to his veterans.
Jukka Raitala Zakaria Diallo, and Bacary Sagna are all 30 or over and they are not mobile. But Raitala and Diallo are disciplined, and they play it safe. Against Columbus Crew last weekend, they combined for only two interceptions and zero tackles, relying on clearances and keeping things simple.
Omar comin', yo!
After helping Independiente romp through the Concacaf Champions League this season, Panamanian international attacker Omar Browne has joined Montreal Impact. Browne's lightning pace created major problems against Toronto FC and Sporting Kansas City, and he's a great fit for Remi Garde's sit-and-counter system. Whether Browne will be ready to roll on Saturday or not is still up in the air. If he's ready, though, he'll inject another pacy option into a match loaded with talent up front.
Make sure you're there on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
at Talen Energy Stadium to see the Union and Impact face off as part of a double-header with Bethlehem Steel FC!
