Playing in their final MLS home game this month, the Chicago Fire will welcome New York City FC to Solider Field on Saturday.
The Fire are three points below the Eastern Conference playoff line following a 1-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes, while NYCFC dropped to fifth with a 2-1 defeat at Austin FC.
Match preview
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Over the past few weeks, the losses have piled up in the Windy City, with Chicago losing three of their previous four encounters in this competition.
Despite that, they are still in the thick of the playoff race, in 13th and just one win away from potentially climbing above that line.
One reason Frank Klopas's men have remained in that battle is their results at home, earning points in three successive MLS fixtures at Soldier Field.
With a victory this weekend, the Fire will equal their longest winning run at home in this competition from a year ago (three) and be just one win shy of matching their 2023 total (six).
Chicago have scored 15 goals at Soldier Field in MLS this year, over half of which have come in their previous three home fixtures combined (eight).
They have not come away with three points against the Pigeons at home since the 2021 domestic campaign, when they won 2-0.
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New York City started brightly last Saturday for a third consecutive match but could not maintain their early advantage, losing a third successive MLS encounter this year away from home.
Nick Cushing's men have drawn first blood in each of their previous three matches within the opening 15 minutes but have now suffered three defeats when scoring first this season.
Another defeat this weekend would equal their longest losing run as the visiting team in this competition set during their inaugural MLS campaign in 2015 (four).
Although recent results have not favoured them away from home, the Boys in Blue have collected 10 points on the road in this competition, one more than their entire output from 2023.
With a dozen matches remaining in the regular season, NYCFC are neck-and-neck with the New York Red Bulls for a top-four place and home-field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs, just a point behind their rivals from across the Hudson River, while they hold the first tiebreaker with two more wins.
The Pigeons are unbeaten in their previous five MLS meetings versus Chicago, with their last away victory against them coming in 2022 (2-0).
Team News
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The Fire were without Carlos Teran last weekend because of a thigh issue, Federico Navarro sat out with a knock and Andrew Gutman had a sore hamstring.
Tobias Salquist could be sidelined again due to an MCL injury, Chase Gasper is dealing with a hamstring strain, while Klopas has said that Xherdan Shaqiri will not be available.
In their previous encounter, Chris Mueller collected his 50th cap as a member of the Fire, while Gaston Gimenez wore the captain's armband for the first time in 2024.
After returning from a long-term injury in late May, Maxi Moralez was on the sidelines again for NYCFC last week with a leg issue, and Birk Risa sat out because of a leg knock.
Christian McFarlane was unavailable for that same reason, while Malachi Jones is still recovering from a broken tibia.
Andres Perea gave his side the lead after only five minutes in the Texas capital, his second of the 2024 MLS regular season.
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Souquet, Omsberg, Czichos; Mueller, Acosta, Gimenez, Gutierrez, Pineda; Koutsias, Haile-Selassie
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Freese; Gray, Martins, Tanasijevic, O'Toole; Parks, Sands, Perea; Wolf, Martinez, Rodriguez
We say: Chicago Fire 1-1 New York City FC
New York City have not been nearly as creative going forward away from home this season, and we expect a cagey affair with two teams that may have difficulty finding enough attacking solutions to win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
