Montreal Impact vs FC Cincinnati: Battle of Struggling Sides in MLS Eastern Conference

Montreal Impact vs FC Cincinnati - 09/27/2026

09/21/2026 962

With both Montreal Impact and FC Cincinnati desperate to stabilize their erratic forms this season, their showdown at Stade Saputo promises to be as much about grit as it is about goals. Neither team has established much consistency, setting the scene for a hard-fought encounter in the MLS Eastern Conference.

Montreal Impact find themselves rooted at the bottom of the standings, sitting 15th with only 5 wins and 6 draws from their 26 league games. Their -22 goal difference underlines the challenge they face on both ends of the pitch, conceding an average of 2.04 goals while scoring just 1.19 per match.

Recent history between Montreal and Cincinnati at Stade Saputo offers a mixed narrative: in their last 6 head-to-heads here, Montreal have claimed victory 3 times, suffered 2 defeats, and shared the spoils once. Most recently, the reverse fixture saw Cincinnati edge a thrilling 4-3 at home, highlighting defensive vulnerability on both sides.

Montreal's current form leaves much to be desired—just 1 win in their last 6 matches, alongside 4 losses and a solitary draw. The finishing touch has deserted them, notching only 0.67 goals per game across this period. Even at home, results haven’t improved much with 1 win and 2 defeats in their last 3, conceding an average of 1.67 per outing.

Digging deeper into home trends, Montreal have struggled to capitalize in front of their supporters. They have gone winless in 16 of their last 20 home fixtures in league action. The lack of stability is stark: 50% of their last 8 home games have ended in draws, and 43% of their last 7 matches saw them lose by two or more goals.

Montreal’s attack is under pressure to deliver—with Prince Owusu the main threat, having scored in several recent games. However, the midfield must improve after averaging just 3 shots on target per match in the last 6, despite periods of decent possession numbers around 46% overall and even hitting 58% in some recent home matches.

FC Cincinnati have not fared much better in terms of recent outcomes. They sit 8th, but are winless in 6 of their last 7 league games and in all of their last 5 fixtures across competitions. Cincinnati have won only once in their past 6, drawing 3 and losing twice. The attack has been more productive than Montreal’s, scoring 1.33 per match, but defensive lapses stand out as they've allowed 2.67 goals per contest in this stretch.

On the road, Cincinnati appear even less convincing. They have failed to win in 87% of their last 15 away matches, with half of their previous 12 ending in draws. The side’s attacking numbers, however, are promising: they’re averaging an impressive 17 shots and nearly 7 on target per match in their last 6 overall, driven by the likes of Kévin Denkey and Evander.

The trends reveal Cincinnati’s matches have a tendency for high scores and dramatic swings, including a 5-0 defeat at Philadelphia and a 4-0 loss at Nashville in recent outings. At the same time, they have lost by two or more goals in 38% of their last 13 away fixtures.

Both squads will be hampered by notable absentees. Montreal are without Olger Escobar, Dante Sealy, Ivan Losenko, Bode Hidalgo, and Frankie Amaya, while Cincinnati miss key defenders Miles Robinson and Teenage Hadebe due to national team call-ups. Those losses will have an outsized impact on both defensive structures.

Probable Lineups:

Montreal Impact
Goalkeeper: Sébastian Breza
Defenders: Jalen Neal, Brayan Ceballos, Brandan Craig, Luca Petrasso
Midfielders: Samuel Piette, Matty Longstaff, Victor Loturi, Wikelman José Carmona Torres
Attackers: Daniel Ríos, Prince Owusu

FC Cincinnati
Goalkeeper: Roman Celentano
Defenders: Nick Hagglund, A. Chirilă, Kyle Smith
Midfielders: Obinna Nwobodo, Pavel Bucha, Kenji Mboma Dem, Ender Echenique, Gerardo Valenzuela
Attackers: Kévin Denkey, Evander

Cincinnati's superior numbers in shots and possession may hand them a slight edge in open play, but both teams’ defensive fragility makes a draw the most probable result. The prediction algorithm underscores this, pointing towards a 2-2 draw as the likely scenario with a 36% probability. Expect both sides to push forward, but neither to find enough control to secure the full three points.

Home team
Away team

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coef.

Us1

Montreal Impact FC Cincinnati 27/09/2026 01:30

313632

X2-2

2 - 2

3.79

66°F

+280

+170 +280 +140 no no no

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