Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Major League Soccer clash between Chicago Fire and Los Angeles Galaxy, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Two sides from different conferences will face off on Saturday when Chicago Fire welcome Los Angeles Galaxy to Soldier Field.
The home side are without a win in their last eight matches while the visitors are on a six-game unbeaten run heading into this affair.
Match preview
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Chicago Fire’s poor early-season form continued as they could only manage a 1-1 draw against Orlando City at Soldier Field on Wednesday.
Facundo Torres put Orlando ahead in the fourth minute, but Hugo Cuypers equalised in the 71st minute to salvage a point for the home side.
Frank Klopas‘s team have now failed to win any of their last eight matches, losing five and drawing three since picking up a narrow 2-1 victory over Houston Dynamo at home back in April.
Chicago Fire’s sluggish start to the season can be attributed to their struggles in front of goal. They currently have the second-worst attacking record in Major League Soccer (MLS), having only scored 15 goals so far, with only rock-bottom New England Revolution (9) netting fewer.
With 12 points from 16 matches, the Men in Red are currently languishing in 14th place in the Eastern Conference standings, just five points above New England Revolution who have played three fewer games.
The Fire will be hoping to end their poor run of form, but to achieve this, they will need to find a way to beat a side they have not defeated since 2010.
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LA Galaxy are having a much better season compared to their hosts, as they currently sit second in the Western Conference with 28 points from their opening 16 matches.
The Galaxy are unbeaten in their last six games, following four consecutive draws with two successive victories against Houston and Dallas.
Greg Vanney‘s men will be looking to make it three wins in a row when they travel to Soldier Field on Saturday. The Los Angeles side have dominated this fixture historically, last losing to the Fire 14 years ago.
The last 13 MLS meetings between these two sides have produced eight wins and five draws for the visitors. However, both of their defeats in this campaign have come away from home, and the Galaxy will be wary of complacency heading into this encounter.
Chicago Fire Major League Soccer form:
Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer form:
Team News
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Chicago will remain without the defensive duo of former Silkeborg man Tobias Salquist and 28-year-old Chase Gasper, who continue their spells on the sidelines.
Cuypers will hope to score in two straight games as he is expected to partner Tom Barlow in attack when the Men in Red head to the pitch against LA Galaxy.
The Galaxy will head into this match with just a solitary player unavailable, as Joseph Paintsil will be unavailable for the fourth game in a row after sustaining a hamstring injury that will keep him out until next month.
After his brace against Dallas, Dejan Joveljic will hope to add more to his tally when he leads the line once again on Saturday.
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Pineda, Teran, Czichos, Dean, Gutman; Navarro, Gutierrez, Acosta; Cuypers, Barlow
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Yamane, Yoshida, Caceres, Aude; Delgado, Brugman, Puig; Pec, Joveljic, Fagundez
We say: Chicago Fire 0-2 Los Angeles Galaxy
LA Galaxy are on a good run right now and will look to carry this momentum into Saturday’s clash. The visitors have also dominated this fixture for over a decade and are the stronger side heading into this fixture.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
