Inter Miami host a struggling CF Montreal side with both teams fielding heavily rotated lineups, yet the hosts still possess world-class quality in attack. Miami's recent home matches have been relentless goal-fests, and the visitors' porous defence away from home points to…
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Sign inInter Miami welcome CF Montreal for Matchday 22 of the 2026 MLS regular season on Saturday evening, aiming to arrest a four-match winless run across all competitions that has seen the defending champions slip to 0-2-2 in August. The fixture carries an extra layer of personal narrative: forward German Berterame returns from a concussion suffered in the reverse meeting between these two sides on July 25.
Berterame is back in the squad after almost a month in concussion protocol. The forward was stretchered off and taken to hospital following a heavy collision with Montreal’s Efrain Morales in Miami’s 1-0 win at Chase Stadium earlier this season. “The TV went out for me,” Berterame recalled, adding that his wife nearly had a panic attack during the ordeal. His availability provides a lift for an attack that has managed only two goals in its last three league outings.
Inter Miami will be without Yannick Bright, who serves a one-match suspension after receiving a red card in the 2-2 draw at Philadelphia Union. Injuries continue to bite: Tadeo Allende, Micael, Santi Morales, and Mateo Silvetti all remain sidelined. Lionel Messi is available despite a fine for an altercation with Philadelphia’s Quinn Sullivan; the Argentine has 14 goals this term and is tied for second in the MLS scoring charts.
Montreal travel south with a lengthy absentee list of their own. Josh Nteziryayo, Bode Davis, Efrain Morales, Wikelman Carmona, and Frankie Amaya are all expected to miss out. The visitors will lean heavily on Prince Owusu, who has scored in four straight matches, including a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at LA Galaxy last weekend. Owusu’s 13-goal campaign has been a rare bright spot in a 5-10-6 season that leaves Montreal on 21 points, fighting to climb out of the Eastern Conference’s lower reaches.
Inter Miami’s recent outings paint a concerning picture. A 4-1 defeat at Nashville was followed by a 2-2 draw in Philadelphia and a 2-1 home loss to Toronto FC—Josh Sargent and Derrick Etienne Jr. scoring three minutes apart in the second half to stun the Herons. Despite that slump, Miami remain second in the East with 39 points (11-6-3) and have dominated this fixture historically, winning 9 of 15 all-time regular-season meetings and going 5-0-1 at home against Montreal.
Montreal, by contrast, have steadied the ship. A 1-0-3 run—including draws with LA Galaxy, Charlotte, and others—suggests a side becoming harder to beat. Prince Owusu’s hot streak gives them a cutting edge that could trouble a Miami defence that has kept only one clean sheet in its last five MLS matches.
Messi’s ability to unlock a deep block remains the game’s most obvious threat. The 37-year-old has 14 goals and nine assists, and he netted in the reverse fixture. Montreal’s backline, patched together through injuries, will need to maintain concentration for 90 minutes—something that proved beyond them in July when a single goal decided the contest. If Messi finds pockets of space in the final third, Miami’s winless streak could come to a swift end; if Montreal can frustrate him, another frustrating night may follow for the home crowd.
Inter Miami will have no better opportunity to reset their season than against the team that inadvertently started Berterame’s personal nightmare almost five weeks ago. A victory would steady the ship before the final stretch of the regular season.
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