Charlotte FC vs CF Montreal Prediction: Charlotte have home advantage

The critical match in the MLS Eastern Conference will be between Charlotte FC and CF Montréal on 6th October 2024. Both teams are comparatively close in the playoff race, with the former sitting in 7th place and the latter just behind in 8th place. Charlotte's inconsistent form comes in contrast to Montréal's impressive unbeaten run, which makes this match pretty significant with regards to positions in the playoffs. Charlotte has home advantage while Montréal boasts a recent surge in momentum. The clash is bound to be tactically interesting with the two teams trying to concrete their postseason ambitions.

Charlotte FC

Charlotte enters this match after an exciting 4-3 home win against Chicago, where their attacking powers were unveiled but so too were their defensive frailties. A seasonal record of 12W 9D 11L really shows it has been quite the rollercoaster ride for them thus far. Despite all of this, Charlotte does come in unbeaten in their last three games-a run which has steadied their playoff hopes.

Charlotte lineup conventionally in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with a strong focus on control in the middle of the park and width in attack. They were able to fashion seven big chances in their last outing against Chicago, demonstrating their offensive imagination. With just 43% possession, however, they may struggle to command the ball against more tenacious pressing teams such as Montréal. For Charlotte, it is still defense that is a problem; the three goals conceded to Chicago are a reminder that the team needs to be a little more resolute, particularly in transitions.

Offensively, Charlotte relies on contributions from their wide players and a central attacking midfielder who links the attack. High pressing is certainly an option, but a reliance on long balls-56 per cent accuracy in their last outing-shows a tendency to bypass midfield when under pressure. The team will also need to be wary of losing out in duels, having won just 46% in their last game.

CF Montreal

Meanwhile, Montréal has reached a fever pitch, with four wins in their last five; a true highlight includes a 2-1 away win against Atlanta. Montréal now comes into this tie with a balanced record of 10 wins, 10 draws, and 12 losses, making a strong push towards that postseason berth, resilient both at home and on the road.

Montréal deploy a 3-4-3 system based on solidity at the back and swift transitions. They can press and counter-attack quite well, as could be seen in that away win against Atlanta, where they created fewer chances but were clinical when it was required. The back three for Montréal are protected by the wing-backs who help keep things compact in defense, while the midfield is expected to put in a shift in wide areas and transition into counter-attacks.

Montreal's pressing intensity has been very good this season, forcing errors and winning lots of defensive duels-67% against Atlanta. The system can accommodate players who apply width to the team, though often they are inclined more to fewer crosses, with 33% accuracy, compared to a direct passing or long-ball strategy. Maybe Montreal's key strength comes in its rapid transition forward after recovering possession, something that could expose a sometimes disorganized Charlotte defense.

Head to Head

Montréal certainly have the stronger head-to-head record, unbeaten in their last five matches against Charlotte, winning four of those matches, including that 2-1 home win in September of this year. Traditionally in this matchup, it has been the Québec outfit who have come in as the stronger side, being first to score in the game and controlling the pace of things. Charlotte have often found themselves having to try and break down a tight rear guard of Montréal.

Expert Betting Tips

This game pits two teams coming into different recent form and playing styles against each other. Charlotte will be looking to build upon the attacking momentum of a high-scoring win, while Montréal will be looking to continue with the disciplined counter-attacking approach that has served them well in previous matches against Charlotte. A further important factor could be the home advantage for Charlotte, as they usually do well in front of their fans. However, their defensive frailties could be laid bare by a Montréal side adept at punishing mistakes.

The recent run of Montréal shows how much they can manage to grind out results, especially in tight games, amassing 4 wins and a draw in the last five games. They have been pretty decent in the backline as well, conceding an average of just 1.2 goals over this period, compared to Charlotte, which has allowed nearly 1.8 goals per game in their last five.

• GG (Yes) @ 1.6 Odds
• GG (Yes) + Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.78 Odds
• Correct Score 2-2 @ 13.00 Odds