Game Day Hub: NYCFC host Montréal in home opener at Yankee Stadium

Today is Matchday 3: New York City FC host CF Montréal at Yankee Soccer Stadium at 1 pm ET in the home opener of the 2022 MLS season.

NYCFC outplayed a physical Comunicaciones FC in the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals on Tuesday, winning the game 3-1. Right on. NYCFC now has a 3-1-1 record in all competitive games so far this year, scoring nine goals and allowing two. Unfortunately, all three wins came in CCL matches: NYCFC is both winless and goalless in MLS league games.

Montréal is also playing in the CCL, and held on for a 1-0 loss to Cruz Azul at the Azteca earlier this week. And Montréal is logging an ignominious start to the MLS season: A 2-0 loss at Orlando City in the opening game, a 2-1 loss at home to a 10-man Philadelphia Union last week.

NYCFC and Montréal have played a total of 14 times: NYCFC won eight games, Montréal won two, and they drew four. The two teams split their games in 2021. On July 7, NYCFC lost to Montréal 2-1 in a match played in Orlando because of COVID protocols, then NYCFC beat Montréal 1-0 at “home” in Red Bulls Arena on July 21.

Match: NYCFC host CF Montréal

Date and Time: Saturday, March 12, 1 pm ET

Venue: Yankee Stadium

Watch: YES, ESPN+

Stream: YES app, ESPN+

Listen: The game will be broadcast in both English and Spanish on NYCFC Radio

• Injury report: NYCFC Defender Anton Tinnerholm is out with the Achilles injury he suffered last October, and Tayvon Gray is out with a lower body issue. The rest of the squad is available.

• There will be a pregame ceremony to celebrate the 2021 MLS Cup and raise a championship banner: Doors open at 11:30 am ET, the presentation will start at 12:40 pm ET, and kickoff will be at 1 pm ET.

• This is the first time all year that NYCFC has the logistical advantage: City is at home after a game in East Hartford on Tuesday, while Montréal spent the week on the road after playing in Mexico City on Wednesday.

• Montréal don't look particularly strong, but this offseason they made the key addition of right-back Alistair Johnston, a 23-year-old Canada international who started in the 2-0 dismantling of the USMNT on January 30.

• Montréal also have players who are out to prove a point: The 23-year-old attacking midfielder Djordje Mihailovic is fighting his way back onto the USMNT, 30-year-old midfielder Victor Wanyama is out to demonstrate that no way nuh-uh is the MLS a retirement league, and 37-year-old Sierra Leonean striker Kei Kamara wants to show he can knock in goals like it’s 2006 all over again.

• NYCFC demonstrated tactical flexibility when they took the field on Tuesday in a 3-5-2 with Thiago Martins, Alexander Callens, Maxime Chanot anchoring the backline. How will the team line up today? Will manager Ronny Deila return to his favored 4-3-3, or does he like his shiny new back three?

• The comment section below is for everybody in the Hudson River Blue community to use for the game thread. Not a member? It’s free: Sign up here.

UPDATE: The starting lineup was posted at 12:21 pm ET