(Photo credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images)

After a rough start to the 2026 MLS season, CF Montreal aim to bounce back quickly when they visit the Chicago Fire on Saturday.

Montreal (0-1-0, 0 points) opened the campaign with a 5-0 loss to San Diego FC last week. An early tally and a stoppage time marker had the Canadian side trailing 2-0 at halftime. Then, a red card to offseason acquisition Tomas Aviles in the 50th minute left it short-handed for the remainder of the match. San Diego scored twice in six minutes shortly after Aviles' forced exit before adding another in the 85th minute.

'It's maybe better to (deal with that cold shower) and wake up immediately,' Montreal coach Marco Donadel said. 'We have to have the right mentality when down a man, but also at full strength, on corners, to stay in the game, to gain momentum.'

Offense was also an issue last season, as they scored just 34 goals. They were shut out 12 times in 34 matches and managed only one goal 15 times. Montreal also had the second-worst goal differential in the league last season at minus-26.

Prince Owusu led the team with a career-high 13 goals and 38 shots on target in 2025. Dante Sealy finished second with nine goals, but Montreal traded the forward to the Colorado Rapids.

The team had just two shots on target against San Diego.

The Fire, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back after a 1-0 halftime lead against Houston turned into a 2-1 loss after 90 minutes.

'It's game management,' midfielder Anton Saletros said. 'We need to realize soccer is a grown-up game. We cannot go out and think that the first half is going to be like the second half, when we had good control and playing and controlling the game. We need to realize the games can change quick, especially in this league, in MLS. ...

'Because yeah, you can be good on the ball and everything can be good when it's nice. But in those difficult times, you need to be a bit stronger and read the game better.'

Chicago had six shot attempts in the match, including three on target. But five of those attempts and all three on goal came in the first half.

One of the top offenses in MLS last season, the Fire scored 32 of their 68 goals at home.

--Field Level Media