Saputo Stadium will host the season-opening match of the 2025 MLS schedule between Toronto FC and CF Montréal on Saturday. The game serves as the start of the Canadian Classique, one of the most recognized rivalries in Canada's sport of soccer. With both teams down, the game carries with it such historical precedent, it does not need to be explained.
With shaky campaigns, Toronto and Montréal are looking for a breather in the midst of pressure to perform. And even though they have only some points on the board, both teams are going into the derby looking for the turnaround, with loads of built-up rivalry in the process.
Montréal continues to chase its first home win of the season
CF Montréal has not won any game at Saputo Stadium this year in 2025. With a win-loss-draw statistic of one win, eight losses, and four draws, the team stands with seven points and 15th below Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings. They managed to put an end to a series of losses by getting a midweek draw 1-1 against Columbus Crew, but there is a desperate need to overcome a victory. The team is currently being led by caretaker coach Marco Donadel, who's been focusing on mending the defense line. Over their last six games, the team has conceded one goal or less in five of them. But the offense remains limited, and they have no striker who can really make an impact.
Toronto's numbers are modest, but history is on their side
Toronto FC is two points behind Montréal, with two wins, seven losses, and four draws in thirteen matches. They lost 1-0 at home to FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night, where goalkeeper Sean Johnson had a great game but could not stop Kévin Denkey's goal in the 18th minute.
Four days earlier, the team defeated DC United 2-0. Insigne bagged his first goal of the year, and Theo Corbeanu registered his first MLS assist for the team. Toronto has managed to pick up points on the road in spite of the modest numbers. In the previous two games away from home, they've picked up four points and conceded one goal.
Toronto holds the superiority in the Canadian derby
This will be the 36th CF Montréal vs. Toronto FC encounter in MLS regular season play. Toronto has the overall advantage, with 16 victories, 14 defeats, and five draws. When Toronto hosts, though, the numbers also favor them: eight victories, five defeats, and one tie. The two teams previously met in Montréal in July 2024, and Toronto won 1-0 thanks to a Richie Laryea strike. The team had also beaten their archrivals 5-1 at home at BMO Field earlier that year, with a hat trick being scored by Bernardeschi. The recent win of Toronto is a big reason why they're trying to make the previous season a repeat.