It's a toothless battle we've seen too often in recent years.
The Canadian Classique, the gold standard of Canadian footballing derbies, between two cities rich in historic rivalry that goes far beyond the pitch, has again been diluted to a mostly trivial affair.
With both sides sitting at or near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, and something between a monumental change in form and a small miracle needed to make the postseason, this fixture, which once was box office viewing, is once again essentially just for bragging rights.
That all being said, there is still merit to this game. Both sides will be motivated to try and keep their season alive, and of course claim victory over the other side.
This will be the second and final edition of the derby in 2026, with the other meeting being a 0-0 draw at Stade Saputo back in July.
How Toronto enter the match
Any momentum from a good run of form at the end of August into the start of September was washed away after a three-game road trip in Orlando, St. Louis and Nashville resulted in zero points.
Now, the Reds sit 13th in the East, and four points out of the ninth and final playoff spot as the final seven-game sprint of the 2026 campaign begins.
It's been another TFC season where they couldn't get any sort of consistent good play going over a longer-term stretch. Whether it be the injury bug, poor performances or anything else, Robin Fraser's side once again has been marred by inconsistency and an inability to find wins.
While the three-match stretch entering the international break was against three teams either in great form or just top teams in general, the losses showed the gulf in class between Toronto and the class of MLS.
Technically, they're still in the mix enough that a very good run in these next seven games could see them sneak into the postseason, but it would have to start with a big win over their bitter rivals.
How Montréal enter the match
While Toronto may still have something to play for in the league campaign, Montréal very likely does not.
While it ended with a miraculous 3-1 win over Cincinnati with just five substitutes on the bench, September was a dull month in league play for the Impact, who lost four of five matches and fell to the basement of the Conference, nine points out of the final playoff spot.
The one major silver lining is the Canadian Championship, where a historic second-leg win over the Whitecaps means there's still a chance for some silverware in 2026.
If the final against Forge is priority one for Montréal, this match will sit at a distant second. Heading into BMO Field and stealing a result over Toronto, fully sinking their playoff chances, would be another feel-good story from a mostly lost season.
Availability
For the hosts, Đorđe Mihailović appears fit enough to return after missing the past few matches with a hamstring injury, while Benjamín Kuscevic, who picked up a knock with Chile during the international break, should be good to go.
Nelson Palacio, who's been ruled out for the season, will therefore not be available for this contest.
For the visitors, Thomas Gillier and Brayan Ceballos were absent from training this week, putting their status up in the air, while Bode Hidalgo will also remain absent. Brayan Vera should be fit to return, which will be a boost in defence.
Projected XIs
After a week off and with players returning from international duty, it's hard to nail down exact lineups, but it's fair to guess both managers will go as full-strength as possible for the derby.
Toronto FC (4-2-3-1): Luka Gavran; Matheus Pereira, Benjamín Kuscevic, Walker Zimmerman, Richie Laryea; Niklas Dorsch, Jonathan Osorio; Dániel Sallói, Đorđe Mihailović, Theo Corbeanu; Josh Sargent
CF Montréal (4-3-3): Sébastian Breza; Luca Petrasso, Brayan Vera, Jalen Neal, Dawid Bugaj; Fabian Herbers, Victor Loturi, Matty Longstaff; Alexis Sánchez, Prince Owusu, Dante Sealy
Game information and how to watch
📆 Saturday, October 9
⏰ 1:00 pm ET / 10:00 am PT
📺 Apple TV
🧑⚖️ Allen Chapman
🏟 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
