Colorado Rapids head coach Matt Wells believes his side will not defeat CF Montreal in MLS on Saturday if they choose to focus on their US Open Cup semi-final instead.
Wells warns Colorado not to look past Montreal
The Colorado Rapids face St. Louis City in the US Open Cup semi-final on Wednesday, but they host CF Montreal in MLS beforehand.
The Rapids host Montreal at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, hoping to return to winning ways after a 1-1 draw with Austin FC, which ended a streak of 14 consecutive MLS matches without a draw for Colorado.
And upcoming opponents Montreal currently sit bottom of the Eastern Conference, having lost each of their last three MLS outings.
Colorado will then face St. Louis City in the US Open Cup semi-finals on Wednesday, though Wells has urged his side to stay focused on their first task against Montreal.
"You can't for one second take your eye off Montreal," said Wells.
"We have a good feeling here. We have had five wins in a row, but we are going to have to be at our best to continue that.
"I never look at the league table or form or results. I think we saw that in Columbus [a 3-0 defeat]. If you look at the league table, you think one story.
"It is the same with Montreal. Top players everywhere. Massive threat in the striker position which everyone knows about.
"If we have any eye on Wednesday, then we're not going to win this football match."
Montreal have just one win in MLS since returning from the World Cup break, leaving them eight points adrift of the playoff places.
They lost 2-1 to Charlotte FC last time out, while they face the Vancouver Whitecaps in the second leg of the Canadian Championship semi-finals next week.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Colorado Rapids – Paxten Aaronson
Aaronson has scored five goals in his 24 regular-season matches this season, including his goal against Austin.
That matches Aaronson’s career MLS regular-season goal total prior to 2026 (five in 44 games).
CF Montreal – Daniel Rios
Rios scored his fourth goal of the MLS season in Montreal's loss to Charlotte.
It is Rios’ fourth time having four or more goals in a single regular season, as all four seasons have come with different clubs (Nashville SC, Charlotte, Atlanta United).
MATCH PREDICTION – COLORADO RAPIDS WIN
Colorado have won six of their nine all-time meetings with Montreal (D1 L2), including winning the last two by a combined score of 10-4.
Colorado’s 10 goals in their last two matches against Montreal are their most in any span of two regular-season matches against a single opponent.
The Rapids still have not been held to a stalemate in the regular season at home in 2026, the only MLS team without a home draw this regular season.
Montreal, meanwhile, have lost three straight MLS matches. They are trying to avoid their second losing streak of four or more games this regular season after having two such single-season streaks combined between 2020 and 2025.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Colorado Rapids – 55.6%
Draw – 22.4%
CF Montreal – 22%
