Published Feb 19, 4:09am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Feb 19, 4:09am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Two sides with playoff aspirations will collide on the opening night in the MLS. Find our San Diego vs. Montreal picks for Feb 21 here.
San Diego were one of the stories of the season in the MLS in 2025, but their Cinderella story didn’t have a happy ending after losing in the Western Conference Final in their debut campaign.
Montreal’s performance levels were up-and-down in 2025, winning just six of their 34 games to finish just under 20 points away from the playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
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|
|---|---|
| San Diego | -212 |
| The Draw | +280 |
| Montreal | +475 |
San Diego made history in their debut campaign, setting expansion records for points and wins before falling to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the conference finals.
Anders Dreyer will once again be one of their most important players after contributing 36 goal involvements in 2025. However, Chucky Lozano is expected to be out of sporting plans for the season ahead. Incoming arrivals are headlined by Lewis Morgan and Bryce Duke.
Major outgoings include first-team central defender Paddy McNair, who has moved to EFL club Hull City, and U.S. international Luca de la Torre, who has joined Charlotte FC.
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Last season was a forgettable campaign for Montreal, as the Canadian franchise finished 13th in the Eastern Conference. Marco Donadel has been appointed full-time head coach after taking interim control in 2025.
Prince Owusu will be the team’s main attacking threat, scoring 13 goals and registering five assists last term. Tomas Aviles is a notable arrival, with the Argentine central defender joining from Inter Miami. Daniel Rios is also an excellent signing after playing a starring role for the Whitecaps in their MLS Cup campaign in 2025.
Bryce Duke departed the club for Sunday’s opponents during the off-season, while the usual number-one goalkeeper, Jonathan Sirois, has also been allowed to leave the club.
| TOTAL | San Diego | Montreal | DRAWS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 65 |
Montreal have strengthened in key areas during the off-season, while San Diego could struggle to replicate last season’s highs after allowing some of their main stars to depart. A competitive opening night clash in California could see the points shared.
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Pick
The Draw
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