The New York Bulls (0-1-3) team that drops into the Olympic Stadium for a 4 p.m. matchup have been a shadow of the squad that topped the MLS regular season standings last season, even though the players are mostly the same.
But then again, the host Impact (0-2-1) have also been a meek imitation of the club that burst out of the gates early last year.
Thierry Henry and his eighth-place Red Bulls hope to notch their first victory of the season, a feat that the ninth-place Impact also hope to accomplish.
“They have a good midfielders and a couple of good strikers but I think we can take advantage of their backs, something that may benefit us but depending on who they bring, we have to be cautious of everyone,” Impact netminder Troy Perkins told the team’s website.
Impact fans will get first their hometown look at Marco Di Vaio, who missed the first three games of the season due to suspension and has only played a single road game. Di Vaio scored once to salvage a 1-1 tie in Philadelphia while his team was down a man.
Veteran defender Heath Pearce, who made his Impact debut in the 1-1 sawoff against the Union, will also be playing in Montreal as an Impact player for the first time, as he duels against his former team.
Fans will have to wait to get a look at the newly-acquired Jack McInerney, who the team eventually hopes to form a potent attack with fellow-Southerner Justin Mapp, who has been an All Star set-up man.
McInerney, the team announced, will not be in the lineup Saturday.
Former Man City and Southampton attacker Bradley Wright-Phillips, 28, supplies much of the offensive threat for the NYRB these days.
Wright-Philips notched four goals in seven games last season and has one goal in three this season for the squad. His older brother Shaun played for England in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Defenders Nelson Rivas and Adrian Lopez are out with injury as is midfielder Sanna Nyassi.
Tim Cahill and Richard Eckersley will miss with injury for the Red Bulls.
