The Seattle Sounders are hosting the Montreal Impact on Saturday in their first and only meeting of the regular season. Here is everything you need to know.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The game will be televised on JOEtv and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The game will air on 950 KJR AM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360 AM.
2018 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 0-2-0 (0 points, 12th West), Impact: 1-2-0 (3 points, 7th East).
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 2-3-1 all time against the Impact.
RECENT RESULTS: Seattle and Montreal played to a memorable 2-2 draw at Olympic Stadium in Quebec last March. Down 2-0 late, Nicolás Lodeiro converted a penalty kick in the 83rd minute before Will Bruin tapped home the equalizer in stoppage time.
INJURY BUG: The Sounders have still yet to see Osvaldo Alonso or VÃctor RodrÃguez take the field this season, while Lodeiro and Bruin are nursing their way back to health. Kelvin Leerdam made his first start of the year against FC Dallas two weeks ago after missing the beginning of the season with a sprained ankle.
DEMPSEY SUSPENDED: Following his red card against FC Dallas, forward Clint Dempsey will serve a one-match suspension this weekend against the Impact.
FIFA FRIENDLIES: The Sounders will have several players returning from international duty ahead of the match this weekend. Cristian Roldan (United States), Gustav Svensson (Sweden), Román Torres (Panama) and Jordy Delem (Martinique) are all participating in friendlies over the FIFA break.
UNDERRATED: In an MLS players poll conducted by ESPN last week, Sounders midfielder Roldan and Impact midfielder Ignacio Piatti were each named as two of the most underrated players in the league. Roldan led MLS in tackles and duels won last year, while Piatti recorded his second consecutive 17-goal season.
NEW FACES: Out are Impact midfielder Blerim Dzemaili (Bologna), midfielder Ballou Tabla (Barcelona), defender Laurent Ciman (LAFC) and midfielder Patrice Bernier (retirement). In are Algerian DP midfielder Saphir Taider, Uruguayan TAM midfielder Alejandro Silva, French defender Rudy Camacho and promising 20-year-old Chilean forward Jeisson Vargas.
AT THE HELM: Rémi Garde takes the reins for the Impact in 2018 after three years at the helm of Ligue 1’s Lyon and most recently a season at Aston Villa in the English Premier League. The former French international plied his trade for Lyon, Strasbourg and Arsenal during his 18-year career.
RIDING MOMENTUM: After dropping the season opener to the Vancouver Whitecaps and a last-minute loss to Columbus Crew SC in Week 2, the Impact recorded their first win of the year with a massive 1-0 home win two weeks ago over Canadian rival Toronto FC.
