Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC – MLS, September 9, 2020

On Wednesday, Montreal and Toronto clash for the third Canadian Classique in less than a fortnight. Both sides have claimed a 1-0 win over their rival recently, although Toronto comes into this game on the back of a 3-2 defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps.

After trailing to Reds for much of 2020, the Impact now has the chance to move to within two points of the former Eastern Conference leader. But can Thiery Henry’s men make the most of their opportunity? Keep reading to see my Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC prediction and betting pick.

I’m not surprised that the best online soccer betting sites view Toronto as the favorite here. The Reds have been far better than Montreal for the majority of the season, although Toronto’s recent downturn means that you’d be foolish to rule out the Impact altogether.

In terms of possession, Toronto dominated the previous two meetings between these teams. But Montreal created enough goalscoring opportunities to make things interesting.

At first glance, the price for the draw stands out to me. Let’s take a closer look at both sides.

Montreal ended Toronto’s 18-game unbeaten streak by sneaking a narrow 1-0 victory last week. The Reds were unbeaten in regular-season encounters since August 2019, but an early goal from Rudy Camacho ultimately proved to be the difference between the two teams.

The Quebec club only managed to pick up four points from their opening four games this year. However, their previous four games have been far more fruitful. Thierry Henry’s side has taken nine points from a possible 12, with victories over DC United, Vancouver, and Toronto propelling the team up the table.

It is worth pointing out that sixth-place Montreal has played two games less than every team above them, while seventh-place New York City has played three games more. Given the circumstances, the Impact can be very proud of their current position.

Toronto’s outstanding unbeaten run saw the club climb to the summit of the Eastern Conference, but consecutive defeats mean the Ontario outfit is now five points behind league-leader Columbus Crew.

Greg Vanney’s men clinched three straight victories after the MLS is Back Tournament, yet they head into this clash on a two-game losing streak. Of course, Toronto is still in a strong position. But any hopes of finishing at the top of the table seem to have disappeared.

Toronto has lacked a cutting edge in attack in recent games. The team was scoring for fun not so long ago, but the goals appear to have dried up. Meanwhile, Montreal has put in a series of stubborn performances since returning to regular-season action, and a number of positive results have followed.

It could be difficult for the Impact to secure successive victories over the Reds, but after beating Toronto at the end of August, I’m confident that the home side can snatch a draw.