Montréal vs Atlanta: Overview

In a tense MLS encounter at Stade Saputo, CF Montréal and Atlanta United FC battled to a 1-1 draw that left fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. The August evening in Montreal provided the perfect backdrop for what turned out to be a match of contrasting halves and styles.

Dante Sealy continued his impressive form for the hosts, notching his fourth goal of the season in the 40th minute after a well-crafted move finished with a precise assist from Caden Clark. Montréal defended resolutely for much of the match, with debutant Thomas Gillier showing remarkable composure between the posts in his first MLS start.

However, Atlanta United's persistence paid dividends in the 87th minute when Alexey Miranchuk capitalized on a corner kick situation to score the equalizer – his fifth goal of the campaign. The visitors nearly snatched all three points in the dying moments when Miguel Almirón's thunderous strike rattled the crossbar, leaving the home supporters collectively exhaling in relief.

The draw does little to improve either team's position in the Eastern Conference standings, with Montréal still searching for just their second home victory of the season. Their record moves to 4-15-7, while Atlanta maintains their 4-11-10 record. The match statistics told their own story, with Atlanta dominating possession (64%) and creating far more quality chances (3.1 xG compared to Montréal's 0.7).

The evening was also significant for the home club as they inducted former defender Hassoun Camara onto their Wall of Fame during the halftime ceremony, adding a touch of nostalgia to what was otherwise a forward-looking contest between two teams seeking to rebuild their seasons.

"We showed tremendous character today against a team that controlled much of the possession," said CF Montréal coach Marco Donadel. "Thomas [Gillier] was exceptional on his debut, and I thought our defensive organization after taking the lead demonstrated the progress we've been making. Of course, we're disappointed not to hold on for the three points, but this performance gives us something to build upon."

"The statistics suggest we should have won this match comfortably," reflected Atlanta United manager Ronny Deila. "But that's been the story of our season – creating chances but lacking that clinical edge. I'm pleased with how we kept pushing until the end and got our reward with Miranchuk's goal. Another few seconds and Almirón's shot goes in rather than hitting the bar, and we're having a different conversation entirely."

"Making my first MLS start was a special moment, especially at home," revealed Montréal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier. "The defenders in front of me were incredible, and though we couldn't quite hold on for the win, I think we showed our potential today. This is something we can build on for the remaining fixtures."

"We dominated in many aspects but sometimes football doesn't reward the team with more possession or chances," said Atlanta's Miguel Almirón. "I thought my shot at the end was going in – I could already see the celebration in my head. We're creating opportunities, which is positive, but we need to be more efficient if we want to climb the table."

"What we witnessed today was typical of both teams' seasons," noted MLS analyst Taylor Twellman. "Montréal showing flashes of quality but struggling to close out games, while Atlanta creates chances in abundance but lacks the killer instinct. Both coaches will see positives, but the reality is that time is running out for either side to make a meaningful push up the standings."

The statistical breakdown of the CF Montréal vs Atlanta United FC encounter reveals a match dominated by the visitors in nearly every metric, making the eventual 1-1 scoreline somewhat surprising.

Possession and Attacking Metrics: • Possession: 36% Montréal - 64% Atlanta • Total Shots: 9 Montréal - 16 Atlanta • Expected Goals (xG): 0.7 Montréal - 3.1 Atlanta • Corners: 3 Montréal - 7 Atlanta

Defensive Actions: • Saves: Thomas Gillier (Montréal) - 6, Brad Guzan (Atlanta) - 2 • Clearances: 21 Montréal - 8 Atlanta • Blocks: 5 Montréal - 1 Atlanta

Individual Performances: • Dante Sealy (Montréal): 1 goal, 2 shots, 1 on target, 23 touches • Alexey Miranchuk (Atlanta): 1 goal, 4 shots, 2 on target, 72 touches • Miguel Almirón (Atlanta): 5 shots, 3 on target, 1 hit woodwork, 4 key passes • Thomas Gillier (Montréal): 6 saves, 2 high claims, 1 punch

The stark contrast in key indicators suggests Atlanta should have converted their territorial advantage into more goals. Their 3.1 xG compared to Montréal's 0.7 highlights the quality of chances created by the visitors. This efficiency gap has been a recurring theme for Atlanta United throughout the current MLS campaign, with the team frequently outperforming opponents statistically but failing to secure maximum points.

Montréal's defensive resolve was evident in their block and clearance numbers, showcasing their determination to secure a result despite being under pressure for significant periods of the match.

5' - First significant chance of the match fell to Atlanta United's Miguel Almirón, whose curling effort from the edge of the box forced Thomas Gillier into an early save, setting the tone for the debutant goalkeeper's busy evening.

22' - Tactical adjustment from CF Montréal coach Marco Donadel, shifting from a 4-3-3 to a more compact 4-5-1 formation to counter Atlanta's dominance in midfield, with Caden Clark dropping deeper to assist in defensive duties.

40' GOAL - Against the run of play, Montréal broke the deadlock through Dante Sealy, who finished clinically after Caden Clark's intelligent cutback from the byline. The goal came from a rapid counter-attack following an Atlanta corner, catching the visitors' defense out of position.

HT - Notable halftime change for Atlanta as coach Ronny Deila introduced Will Reilly in place of Tristan Muyumba, seeking more creativity in the central areas.

63' - Double substitution for Montréal with Steven Alzate and Juan Berrocal making their club debuts, coming on for Prince-Osei Owusu and Hennadii Synchuk respectively, as Donadel looked to fresh legs to maintain the lead.

72' - Crucial moment as Thomas Gillier produced a spectacular double save, first denying Saba Lobzhanidze's powerful drive before reacting quickly to block Almirón's follow-up attempt from close range.

87' GOAL - Atlanta United finally broke through when Alexey Miranchuk reacted quickest to a loose ball following a corner, driving his shot through a crowd of players and into the bottom corner for the equalizer.

90+3' - Heart-stopping moment for the home supporters as Miguel Almirón's dipping volley from 20 yards beat Gillier but crashed against the crossbar, nearly giving Atlanta a dramatic late winner in the final seconds of the MLS clash.

The rivalry between CF Montréal and Atlanta United FC has developed into one of the more intriguing matchups in the Eastern Conference since Atlanta joined MLS in 2017. With this latest 1-1 draw, the all-time record between these clubs now stands at 8 wins for Atlanta, 5 for Montréal, and 5 draws across all competitions.

Historically, Atlanta has had the upper hand in this fixture, particularly during their championship-winning seasons of 2018-2019 when they secured four consecutive victories against the Canadian side. However, the dynamics have shifted somewhat in recent encounters, with Montréal showing more resilience and managing to avoid defeat in three of their last four meetings.

At Stade Saputo specifically, the head-to-head record is more balanced, with Montréal having won 4, lost 3, and drawn 3 against their Georgian opponents. The atmospheric Montreal venue has often provided the backdrop for tight, tactical battles between these teams, with six of the last eight encounters there being decided by a single goal or ending in draws.

Individual battles on the pitch have consistently shaped this rivalry. Miguel Almirón has been particularly influential for Atlanta against Montréal throughout his MLS career, contributing 5 goals and 7 assists in 11 appearances. For Montréal, the emergence of Dante Sealy as a goalscoring threat adds a new dimension to this matchup, with his goal in this fixture being his second against Atlanta this season.

Tactically, this fixture has typically featured a clash of styles, with Atlanta preferring a possession-based approach (evidenced by their 64% possession in this match) against Montréal's more direct, counter-attacking system. This pattern has remained consistent even as both teams have changed coaches multiple times since their first meeting.

With both teams currently struggling in the standings, this rivalry may lack some of its previous intensity in terms of playoff implications, but the competitive balance and contrasting approaches continue to make CF Montréal versus Atlanta United fixtures compelling viewing for MLS enthusiasts.

Following the 1-1 draw at Stade Saputo, both CF Montréal and Atlanta United FC remain entrenched in the lower regions of the Eastern Conference MLS standings, with their playoff aspirations looking increasingly remote as the 2025 season progresses.

CF Montréal now sits in 14th place with a record of 4-15-7 (19 points), leaving them 13 points adrift of the final playoff spot with only eight matches remaining in their campaign. Their home form continues to be a significant concern, having secured just one victory at Stade Saputo all season – a statistic that ranks as the worst home record in the conference.

Atlanta United occupies 12th position with a slightly better record of 4-11-10 (22 points), but similarly faces an uphill battle to reach the postseason. The five-time playoff qualifiers are experiencing one of their most challenging seasons since joining the league, sitting 10 points behind the playoff line.

Both teams' poor goal differences (-18 for Montréal, -11 for Atlanta) further highlight their struggles throughout the campaign. Despite occasional bright performances – like Atlanta's dominant possession display in this match – neither side has shown the consistency required to make a late-season surge.

Mathematically, both teams remain in contention for the playoffs, but realistically, attention may already be turning toward rebuilding for the 2026 season. For Montréal, the focus might shift toward giving more minutes to promising youngsters like Thomas Gillier, who impressed on his debut. Atlanta, meanwhile, will be looking to find more consistency in their finishing to convert their often-impressive build-up play into actual points.