2024 CPL Regular Season — Match #7
Atlético Ottawa vs. Cavalry FC
April 20, 2024 at 2 p.m. ET/12 p.m. MT
TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario
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This weekend, the defending Canadian Premier League Shield winners take on a challenger looking to get it back as Atlético Ottawa host last year’s regular season champions Cavalry FC.

It’s been all smiles in the capital this week, after Ottawa opened their 2024 season last Saturday with a comeback win over York United FC. The 2-1 triumph saw two club debutants, Manny Aparicio and Kris Twardek, score en route to a dramatic victory in cold, drizzly conditions at TD Place. After entering the season with so much hype around the club thanks to a litany of big-name off-season signings, their matchday one launch was a success.

The same can’t necessarily be said of Cavalry, who began their 2024 season in the same place they ended 2023. The Calgary side took on Forge FC at Tim Hortons Field in a CPL Final rematch last weekend and took a second-half lead thanks to Sergio Camargo’s headed flick from a corner. Shortly thereafter, however, they conceded two goals in six minutes to leave with a 2-1 defeat and no points.

So, it’ll be a motivated Cavalry making another Ontario stop, hoping to spoil the party at Atleti’s “Pay What You Can” match.

Despite being the most successful regular season team over the course of the CPL’s history, Cavalry have often had trouble playing against Ottawa. They’re the only CPL opponent against whom Cavalry have averaged less than one point per game (0.83), and they’ve only beaten Atlético three times in 12 attempts.

Last year, the season series was a draw, with both teams winning once at home and away. Their final meeting of 2023 was a wild and memorable one at TD Place, though; Ottawa thought they’d snatched a point in the 88th minute when Luke Singh scored an outrageous overhead kick to equalize at 1-1, but in the seventh minute of stoppage time Cavalry’s William Akio put the visitors back in front to secure a dramatic win.

All that’s to say, there’s no shortage of motivation in this fixture for either side. Ottawa would love a measure of revenge for that last defeat, of course, but even more than that they would be thrilled to start the season 2-0 with so many new faces in the squad.

Cavalry, meanwhile, will be desperate not to lose a second straight game — something they haven’t done in a CPL season since July 2022.

By all accounts, both sides are dealing with a clean bill of health at this early stage of the year; Ottawa had no injury concerns last week (minus Jonathan Grant’s season-ending ACL tear) and González confirmed that the full squad is available again. For Cavalry, Maël Henry remains out, and Jesse Daley joins him on the list of injuries for this week, while Callum Montgomery will undergo a late fitness test to see if he’s able to play; Myer Bevan remains inactive as well for personal reasons.

All CPL matches are available to stream on OneSoccer, FuboTV, or on TELUS Optik TV Channel 980.

3 THINGS TO WATCH

• 90 minute-effort required on both ends: Despite differing outcomes, the managers of both these clubs felt their side’s level dropped at certain points of their game last Saturday. Ottawa were outplayed in the first half by York United and conceded very quickly at the start of the second half, before waking up around the hour mark and taking control from there. “I think with the ball we had more clarity in offensive actions, a little bit more in the second half,” Carlos González said of his team’s comeback last weekend. “We have to try and be as fluid as that second half in the next game.” Cavalry, meanwhile, felt in control for stretches of the match against Forge, but after they took a lead they were unable to hold on and allowed two goals in quick succession. Both teams want to stay switched on for a more comprehensive performance this time around.

• Midfield battle could dictate possession: Cavalry have long ensured that the centre of the pitch is an area of strength for them, and that’s undoubtedly the case this year with former Valour standout Diego Gutiérrez now patrolling from box to box alongside Charlie Trafford. Ottawa, however, have put together a formidable counter, as a group that already included La Liga veteran Alberto Zapater and former CPL Player of the Year Ollie Bassett has added a true sparkplug in Manny Aparicio — who debuted with a goal and an assists last week. Aparicio is a foe Cavalry know well, but his addition to Atlético’s setup makes this a more mobile and perhaps crowded midfield challenge. Expect a fierce battle for control of the central areas. “They’ve got a good midfield group; we have our systems of play and so do they,” Tommy Wheeldon Jr. said. “So that’s what I look forward to with these matchups. We’re different from them and they’re different from us, so how can we impose ourselves in their place, on their pitch?”

• Space to attack on the wings? One part of the pitch that might produce some of the more entertaining attacking sequences in this game should be the flanks. Last week, Ottawa lined up with Matteo de Brienne and Kris Twardek, both very attack-minded players, as fullbacks, which indicated a desire to get forward in wide areas — but also might cause a defensive vulnerability if players like Cavalry’s Ali Musse or William Akio can force them backward. Expect speed and verticality from both sides in that area, as some of the CPL’s most talented wide players go head-to-head.

PROJECTED STARTING XIs

Atlético Ottawa: Ingham; Twardek, Didic, Singh, De Brienne; Sissoko, Aparicio, Bassett, Zapater, Tabla; Salter

Cavalry FC: Carducci; Kobza, Klomp, Montgomery; Shome, Gutiérrez, Trafford, Kamdem; Musse, Shaw, Akio

ALL-TIME SERIES

Atlético Ottawa wins: 8 || Cavalry FC wins: 3 || Draws: 1

Last meeting:

Sept. 3, 2023 — Atlético Ottawa 1-2 Cavalry FC

KEY QUOTES

“Cavalry are a great team. They have the core of the team they maintained from last season, so they’ve done part of the work and they’re giving continuity to the things they built last season. What we’re going to try to do is minimize their strengths.” — Atlético Ottawa head coach Carlos González

“They’re trying to be a bit more attacking this year, especially at home. That might change against us; they’ve always been very good at sitting low, defending, and they’re very good at it, but it’s different personnel this time. I’m not sure Manny Aparicio and Ollie Bassett and Ballou Tabla are going to want to sit low in their own half and wait for the opportunity, I think they probably want to come out and attack us.” — Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr.