Montreal Impact have the third worst goal differential but sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
What gives?
Let’s take a peek at points per game: 1.30. Ahh, there we go. The Quebecois club is eighth in the east in this category, behind both New England and Toronto FC. By the time they met the Union, the Impact will have gone over a month without a MLS win, and they have the third fewest goals in the Eastern Conference.
The issue for Remi Garde’s side has been securing three points at home all season. No team in the top five in the east has lost four home matches, but the Impact are only 5-4-1 at home, so keeping the points north of the border will be considered a must this weekend.
Uncovering why Montreal hasn’t been a strong team at home isn’t difficult: They expected to be led by Nacho Piatti and Saphir Taider; only the latter has been healthy.
Union fans are very familiar with Piatti. The Argentine has put on a show against Philly on more than one occasion because his ability to suss out the weak points in a transition defense is nearly unrivaled. Piatti tends to start on the left wing but he can drift centrally to lose his markers or pull open space for what is often an industrious if low scoring striker.
Behind Piatti and Taider, the Impact are likely to run out a five-man defense designed to exploit wide space in attacking transitions. Much like Chicago was able to use their wingbacks to stretch out the Union, Montreal will attempt to advance through wide areas to make the Union diamond move sideline to sideline.
One huge boost for the Union will be the absence of Samuel Piette in midfield and Bacary Sagna at right wingback. Piette is an excellent disruptive force in the center and he plays smart, quick first balls to start transitions. Sagna takes a very attack-minded view of the wide defender role and allows Montreal to advance through the first wave of counterpressure without a highly technical central midfielder.
The Union and Impact meet for the second time this season at 8:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 27 in Stade Saputo. PHL17 will carry the broadcast.
