CF Montreal v New York Red Bulls: Schwarz demands rhythm and fluidity amid playoff push

New York Red Bulls head coach Sandro Schwarz has demanded more fluidity from his attackers following their recent struggles.

The Red Bulls have scored just twice in four MLS games since their U.S. Open Cup defeat on August 13, but their most recent match against the Portland Timbers left Schwarz particularly frustrated.

NYRB lost 2-1 on the road to the Timbers, but they conceded the winning goal just three minutes after Emil Forsberg had restored parity. 

After failing to win any of their last three MLS games, the Red Bulls are now 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points adrift of the Chicago Fire in the playoff places.

Ahead of their upcoming fixture against CF Montreal, who are currently bottom of the Eastern Conference, Schwarz wants to see his attack play with more rhythm.

"It's really tough to lose this game," Schwarz said after the Timbers defeat.

"How we lost, directly after we scored the goal, not to create our momentum, to feel the momentum in the game, you have to feel the rhythm. But, in the end, we lost, on the road, again.

"We have to try so many things, in the final third, we have to work so hard against the ball, to score a goal.

"Now we have four games to go. The energy level we need, every time, every time."

Montreal, meanwhile, saw their five-game unbeaten run in the MLS ended by St. Louis City SC, losing 2-0 thanks to goals in either half from Conrad Wallem and Marcel Hartel. 

It was a game that Montreal had their chances in, though, registering an expected goals (xG) total of 1.41 from their 18 shots, marginally better than St. Louis' 1.21.

However, interim head coach Marco Donadel highlighted the importance of focusing on the finer details in their play, something he wants to see improve in their final four league games. 

"The details are really important at this level, especially when we face a team that really came here to play open," said Donadel.

"There are so many situations where we were close to scoring and reopening the game, but the end, we didn't.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Montreal – Prince Owusu

Prince Owusu is enjoying his best MLS campaign, registering 12 goals and five assists in 30 games this season.

However, after directly contributing to goals in four consecutive matches, Owusu has failed to make an impact in his last two games.

New York Red Bulls – Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

Only eight players have bettered Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's MLS goal tally of 15 this season, but his recent drought has coincided with NYRB's struggles.

He has not scored in his last three games for New York after directly contributing to goals in his three matches prior, which resulted in two wins and one loss.

MATCH PREDICTION – NEW YORK RED BULLS WIN

Montreal's defeat to St. Louis last time out was the club's 10th home loss in all competitions this season (two wins and seven draws, including two penalty shootouts). The 17 home matches without a win are the second most in a single season by an MLS team, with the Philadelphia Union having 18 in all competitions last season.

However, the Red Bulls have lost five straight away matches in all competitions, after their most recent defeat against the Timbers. It's NYRB's longest road losing streak in a single season since having six straight defeats in 2017 (March-May).   

The Red Bulls earned a 1-0 home win over Montreal when the teams met in April. NYRB have never swept a season series against this weekend's opponents, as their last time winning consecutive league matches against them was 2017-18.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

CF Montreal – 29.4%

Draw – 24.7%

New York Red Bulls – 45.9%