Sounders look to shake off slow start vs. CF Montreal

The Seattle Sounders have gotten off to slow starts before.

So the Sounders (0-3-2, 2 points) aren't quite hitting the panic button entering Saturday night's home match against CF Montreal (2-2-1, 7 points).

"We've gone through spells like this before, probably even worse at times," Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan said. "Unfortunately, this spell is at the beginning of the season. ... It's not fun to go through these downs, but there's light at the end of the tunnel. We really believe that we can get out of this."

The Sounders, considered one of the Western Conference favorites heading into the season, have been beset by injuries. Albert Rusnak, who suffered an ankle injury in February, made his first start of the season last Saturday in a 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy. Fellow midfielder Joao Paulo has yet to play this season because of a hip injury. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei (hamstring) and defender Yeimar Gomez Andrade (undisclosed) have also missed games. Winger Leo Chu (knee) and big offseason acquisition Pedro de la Vega (hamstring) remain out.

"When we have everybody back, I feel the whole team will feel more comfortable," Rusnak said. "We may not seem like it, but everybody knows what's going on and we're aware of the fact when someone goes down with an injury. It's like negativity spreading around and then it spreads to us as players. I just want everyone to be healthy."

CF Montreal is wrapping up its season-opening six-game road trip. Montreal has lost two in a row, including a 1-0 defeat last weekend against D.C. United in which forward Josef Martinez, a former MLS MVP and Golden Boot Award winner, made his first start for the club.

"What we can learn from this game is how to adjust in difficult moments when we can't breathe as easily," Montreal captain Samuel Piette said. "When a team like D.C. lays traps for you and blocks the middle, you have to know how to adjust. We were able to do it, but it wasn't perfect. You have to live with that pressure and find solutions. It was a good test. ... It wasn't a pleasant game to play, but a good lesson all the same."

This will be the first meeting between the clubs since a 2-1 Montreal victory in Seattle on June 29, 2022. Montreal leads the all-time series 6-2-1.