​New England Revolution v CF Montreal: Mitrovic draws inspiration from France-Brazil experience

New England Revolution boss Marko Mitrovic is taking inspiration from a meeting with France coach Didier Deschamps as his team prepare to resume their MLS campaign against CF Montreal.

Mitrovic was appointed as the Revs’ new head coach ahead of the 2026 season, which they have started with one win and three defeats from their opening four games.

During the international break, Mitrovic was able to spend some time with France boss Deschamps, as Les Bleus trained at the Revs’ facility ahead of their 2-1 friendly win over Brazil in Foxborough.

“To watch France and Brazil, anywhere around the world, it’s an amazing event,” Mitrovic said after meeting with Deschamps.

“It’s one of the best events in sports, and having the opportunity to watch it here, even if it was a friendly game…

“Those were the last games before the World Cup, so I believe it meant a lot to both teams, to prepare in the best possible way for the World Cup.”

Bienvenue en Nouvelle-Angleterre!

Ahead of Thursday’s friendly between France and Brazil at Gillette Stadium, the Revs hosted head coach Didier Deschamps and Les Bleus in Foxborough. pic.twitter.com/CYSKBnGAGQ

— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) March 26, 2026

New England bolstered their attacking options by signing Marcos Zambrano from Real Salt Lake last week, and the forward is looking forward to reuniting with Mitrovic, having played under the Serbian for the United States’ under-20 side.

“I’m very grateful to be with him,” Zambrano said. “I’ve worked with him for years with the national team, since I was 16 or 17 years old. So, I’m very happy for this opportunity.

“He knows me very well, and he trusts me because he knows the player I can be.”

Montreal also have three points on the board, albeit having played one additional game compared to New England, after they suffered back-to-back defeats to Orlando City (2-1) and FC Cincinnati (4-3) before the hiatus.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

New England Revolution – Luca Langoni

Langoni has recorded four assists in his four MLS games so far this season.

He is the first Revs player to have four assists over the team’s first four games of a regular-season campaign since Steve Ralston in 2002.

CF Montreal – Prince Owusu

Owusu (four goals, one assist) and Wiki Carmona (three goals, two assists) are the first pair of Montreal team-mates to each register five goal contributions through the club’s first five games of a season.

The only other players to accomplish this for the club are Djordje Mihailovic (2022) and Ignacio Piatti (2016).

Only Petar Musa (six goals), Nicolas Fernandez, Brian White and Joao Klauss (all five) have outscored Owusu in MLS this year.

MATCH PREDICTION – NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION WIN

New England and Montreal split their two meetings last season, with both teams winning by multiple goals when on the road.

Six of the last nine matches between the two sides have been decided by multiple goals, with three of those being decided by four or more.

A tighter affair is expected this time around, but the hosts are favourites. Montreal have conceded the second-most goals (14) in MLS this season, with only Orlando City conceding more (17).

That equals the most goals conceded by the club through their first five games of any MLS season (also 14 in 2022).

The Revs, meanwhile, are playing at home for the first time since a 6-1 victory over FC Cincinnati on March 15. The only other time New England have ever scored six or more goals against an MLS side at home was in 2004 against the Colorado Rapids (also 6-1).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

New England Revolution – 48%

CF Montreal – 26%

Draw – 26%