More than just a 90-minute MLS match The Montreal Impact and Toronto FC are set for the latest chapter in a developing rivalry

Noel Butler Analyst, TSN Radio 690 Montreal Archive

While Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo and his wife Carmie met Pope Francis at the Vatican last week, Stade Saputo has been experiencing its own form of divine intervention since Mauro Biello was appointed Impact head coach back last August.

Biello has compiled a 9-0 home record with his team, outscoring opponents by a wide margin. Through this nine-match run the Impact has scored an impressive 23 goals while conceding just six with five shutout victories. Take note José Mourinho.

Late Saturday afternoon in east end Montreal, the Impact will be looking to extend this impressive record to a perfect 10 out of 10 when Toronto FC, with one of the most expensively assembled squads in MLS history, pay an visit to the club that brought a halt to its 2015 season.

The Impact’s impressive come-from-behind victory on the final day of the 2015 regular season against TFC was followed up just four days later with the resounding 3-0 playoff drubbing. The pain and trauma of that defeat was made all the more unbearable for TFC club and supporter alike after suffering through eight seasons of futility before finally making the playoffs last fall.

That was then, this is now. Buoyed by last Saturday’s 1-0 win over D.C. United, TFC will not need any reminding or extra motivation to be the most severe of tests for the home team at a place they like to call Fortress Saputo.

By sheer coincidence, it was a 2-1 reversal against Toronto FC late last August which spelled the end of Frank Klopas’ reign at Stade Saputo. Biello was immediately announced as his interim replacement. The only Impact player in club history to have his jersey retired, Biello was rightfully rewarded the gig full time a few days after the Impact’s 2015 season concluded with a heartbreaking extra-time defeat in the conference semi-final second leg away to the Columbus Crew.

The Impact had a rare day off from training to start the work week Monday. Their head coach, who also had the key role of director of player personnel bestowed on him, took the opportunity to pay a visit to the dentist and have the snow tires on his car changed.

With the Impact topping the Eastern Conference while compiling one of the very best records in MLS, the club go into the TFC encounter on the back of a two-game winning streak. The most recent victory saw Didier Drogba score his first goal of the season with the deftest of touches as he back-heeled the ball from the edge of the six-yard box past a sprawling Matt Lampson in the Chicago goal. Drogba had been substituted on to the pitch barely five minutes earlier.

Drogba doesn’t just bring goals to the Impact; his mere presence on the pitch draws attention away from others and provides room and more time on the ball for Ignacio Piatti. Case in point was the Argentine’s sensational winner two minutes into added time.

As Dominic Oduro collected the ball about 30 yards out, the Chicago defence was sucked into the centre, wary of a ball through the middle to Drogba no doubt. Oduro lofted a neat chip right onto the toe of Piatti on the left side just on the edge of the Fire penalty area. The Argentine didn’t need any invitation as he curled a ball with immense power and accuracy into the far top right corner of the goal to earn another three points for his club. Piatti’s fourth of the season, and another MLS Goal of the Week, would certainly have graced any El Clássico occasion.

The Impact’s head coach is not getting carried away with his club’s rather notable start to the season — one that is getting the attention of the entire league.

“I think the team is going through a good moment,” Biello told TSN690 this week. “I think we’ve been playing some pretty good soccer and getting some results. I think we need to take advantage of these moments because we know the season is long. There will be difficult moments and we will have to deal with that, but right now I am happy with the way the team is playing”

Very sage and wise words spoken by someone who has already fully prepared for that difficult period and has the much needed immediate response to it tucked away in his kit bag. From my vantage point though, it would seem those challenges are way off in the distance. I can’t at all recall at any time over the last decade that the Impact has consistently put in such quality performances, week in and week out. Even during their recent two-game road skid, the Impact created and spurned great opportunities and were in the matches right through, but ultimately the difference was their conceding of soft, preventable goals.

The Impact looks comfortable in and out of possession, with the players fully aware of their roles and responsibilities. When called upon, goalkeeper Evan Bush makes the spectacular look easy. In doing so, he provides motivation and confidence to inspire his teammates.

As we all wonder and stare in amazement at the immensity that is Nacho Piatti, we can’t lose sight of the fact that the Impact’s diminutive talisman is but one on a podium full of Argentines who have made significant contributions to the Impact cause this season.

Víctor Cabrera in the middle of defence has clearly benefitted playing alongside Laurent Ciman. The 23-year-old defender has so much more potential for a player who more than makes up for his lack of height and strength in a league that places power at the very top. Having suffered a concussion last weekend, Cabrera has spent most of this week training alone. He could be available to Biello Saturday afternoon.

Lucas Ontivero, who stands a mere 5-foot-6, puts his low gravity to maximum effect as he waltzes around opponents as if they do not exist. Every time Ontivero is on the ball in the opponents half expectation rises. How he hasn’t got off the mark in the goal scoring charts is one of the very few mysteries of the Impact season to date.

There is little mystery though about an Impact-Toronto FC encounter. Although MLS likes to project a grossly inflated image of growing and intense rivalries across the league, the fact of the matter is that traditional football rivalries the world over occur organically — not in the lab of an ad agency.

The best rivalries ferment naturally and are measured in decades, not in 90-minute bursts. The stories emanating from the biggest rivalries the world over are handed down from one generation to the next. Clever, and creative social media campaigns and the best ad agency brains can only take you so far.

Don’t get me wrong, the Impact’s rivalry with Toronto FC has all the hallmarks and ingredients. Slowly and surely the two clubs and their respective supporters are building the foundations and providing the storylines for what one day might become not only the biggest rivalry across the entire MLS landscape but one mentioned in the same breath as the Canadiens - Maple Leafs rivalry.

With the normally unreliable Montreal weather even cooperating, nothing but blue and warming skies are expected over a packed stadium Saturday afternoon. With Toronto FC’s legion of very red clad travelling support already descending on Montreal, it won’t be too before others in world football start paying attention.

Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC – live on TSN690

Kick-Off at 4pm et/1pm pt. Pre-Game 3pm et/ 12pm pt