Impact, TFC scoring stars to be showcased as rivals meet in 401 Derby match

MONTREAL – There is no shortage of star power when the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC meet in a 401 Derby match.

TFC brings 2015 Major League Soccer scoring leader Sebastian Giovinco and the soccer equivalent of a power forward in Jozy Altidore, not to mention U.S. national team midfielder Michael Bradley.

Montreal counters with Ivorian legend Didier Drogba and the heady Ignacio Piatti, as well as MLS defender of the year Laurent Ciman.

The teams meet Saturday afternoon at what is expected to be a sold out Saputo Stadium, with mixed martial arts star Georges St-Pierre on hand to ring the bell in the east grandstand if the Impact can manage to score a goal against TFC’s suddenly stingy defence.

“It’s going to be good matchups at both ends,” Impact coach Mauro Biello said Thursday. “We both have quality players going forward.”

Toronto has built an impressive 2-2-2 record despite playing only road games so far this season while their home field gets an upgrade. Montreal (4-2-0) has taken top spot in the Eastern Conference despite only two second-half appearances by Drogba.

The Chelsea legend came on in the 50th minute last week and scored his first of the season in a 2-1 victory in Chicago last Saturday. The 38-year-old Drogba joined the Impact last summer and scored 11 times in as many regular season games.

“Any time (Drogba) is in the box, every team in the league knows where he is — with the exception of Chicago, apparently,” Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush said with a smile. “You have to know where guys like that are because they’re difference makers.”

He said it is the same with Giovinco, the dazzling Italian speedster who has scored in each of TFC’s last two games, including the early winner in a 1-0 victory at D.C. United in their last outing.

“Any time they’re in transition, they’re looking to find (Giovinco),” said Bush. “Dead ball, they put him on the ball.

“So he provides a lot to talk about, but you also have to worry about yourself. We do the same things attack-wise as we usually do, but we have more of a sense of where a guy like Giovinco would be in those moments.”

Mostly in Drogba’s absence, Piatti has stepped up on attack. The Argentine is just off the league leaders with four goals.

Piatti and Drogba were at the top of their games in October when Montreal topped TFC 2-1 in the final regular season game and 3-0 four days later in the first round of playoffs.

But Toronto looks to have fixed last season’s porous defence with the addition of goalie Clint Irwin, central defender Drew Moor and right back Steven Beitashour.

That has put the two central Canadian clubs among the favourites to win the conference this season.

“Games change quickly,” said Bush. “Games are built around moments and we won those moments last year in those games.

“We know Toronto’s a dangerous team with good players but we know that if we win those moments again we’re in good shape.”

Biello said fullback Donny Toia injured a calf in practice this week and is not sure to be ready, while central defender Victor Cabrera, who took a knock on the head in Chicago, is free of concussion symptoms but remains a question mark for Saturday.

Left back Ambroise Oyongo is back to full health, as is 21-year-old midfielder Lucas Ontivero, who was briefly a teammate of Drogba with Turkish club Galatasaray in 2013-14.