SM
Juventus vs. Cagliari: 6 hrs 28 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
CF
Major League Soccer
Apr 17, 2022 at 1am UK
Toyota Park
LG

Chicago Fire
0 - 0
LA Galaxy


Czichos (24'), Pineda (44'), Gimenez (49'), Navarro (69')
FT

Williams (38'), Coulibaly (76')

Preview: Chicago Fire vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Chicago Fire vs. Los Angeles Galaxy - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Chicago Fire and Los Angeles Galaxy, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Western Conference high-flyers Los Angeles Galaxy travel to Soldier Field on Sunday, when they will face Chicago Fire, who currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference.

This weekend's hosts suffered their first defeat of the campaign in their previous outing, while LA Galaxy enter this encounter after bouncing back from consecutive losses with two wins on the bounce.


Match preview

Fire have the joint-best defensive record in the MLS so far this season, having conceded just two goals in their opening six matches, but one of those strikes proved costly in a 1-0 defeat against Orlando City on Saturday.

Ezra Hendrickson's side's challenge at the Exploria Stadium was made more difficult just before half time when Brian Gutierrez was sent off for a second bookable offence, and after that, Chicago struggled to create many chances on goal.

This weekend's hosts have drawn three matches this year, all ending 0-0, suggesting that if Chicago can improve in the attacking third, they will be able to create a gap between themselves and those outside the top seven.

Those draws have meant that Hendrickson's side have managed to maintain an unbeaten start on home soil, but the Fire will want to entertain their own crowd more by creating more chances on goal.

LA Galaxy will be full of confidence entering this clash, after securing a 2-1 win over rivals Los Angeles FC last Sunday, thanks goals from Javier Hernandez and Sega Coulibaly.

Greg Vanney's side allowed their visitors to have more possession in that match, and in turn LAFC created more chances, but Galaxy were efficient with their opportunities in front of goal, scoring their only two shots on target.

Despite that victory, LA Galaxy remain one point behind Steven Cherundolo's side in the Western Conference, but three points on Sunday could allow Vanney's team to leapfrog their rivals.

Of the eight goals Vanney's team have scored in total this season, Hernandez has netted five of them, suggesting that he is the main threat Chicago will have to deal with, as well as Raheem Edwards and Samuel Grandsir, who have shown their creativity in assists.

Neither of these two sides have looked to highly press their opponents this year, meaning that Sunday's clash could force one of Chicago or Galaxy to come out of their defensive shape more than usual.

Chicago Fire Major League Soccer form:
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L

Los Angeles Galaxy Major League Soccer form:
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • W

Team News

Chicago attacker Xherdan Shaqiri was forced off after just 19 minutes against Dallas at the beginning of this month, and he did not make a full recovery in time to feature last weekend, and is likely to miss out again this time around.

There are no new injury concerns for Hendrickson to concern himself about, but he will have to alter his midfield after Gutierrez's red card against Orlando, meaning that youngster Javier Casas could make his first start of the campaign.

Gaston Gimenez is certain to start in the middle of the field, and after a strong performance last weekend Federico Navarro is likely to have earned his place alongside Gimenez again.

Adam Saldana and Jorge Villafana continue to be sidelined for LA Galaxy due to injury, but the visitors are expected to continue with the same starting 11 that secured victory over rivals LAFC.

Hernandez is certain to lead the line, with Grandsir and Efrain Alvarez operating in the wide areas either side of Victor Vazquez, who will operate in the number 10 role.

Marco Delgado will be available for selection again after his suspension, but Kelvin Leerdam and Rayan Raveloson could continue in midfield as they did so last weekend.

Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Slonina; Espinoza, Pineda, Omsberg, Sekulic; Navarro, Gimenez; Bornstein, Casas, Ivanov; Przybylko

Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
Bond; Edwards, Williams, Coulibaly, Araujo; Raveloson, Leerdam; Grandsir, Vazquez, Alvarez; Hernandez


We say: Chicago Fire 1-2 Los Angeles Galaxy

This is expected to be an entertaining encounter after both sides have started the season quite well, but entering this match on the back of a derby win could be the boost that Galaxy need in this away fixture.

Chicago have not scored a flurry of goals this season, which will play into the hands of Galaxy, who can then use the hosts' lack of attacking threat to make sure they outscore their opponents.






body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!



amp_article__483296 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-07 08:30:57:
html db last update - 2024-06-07 08:30:57 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Saturday's Major League Soccer predictions including LA Galaxy vs. Los Angeles FC
Chelsea shock! Mudryk 'tests positive for banned substance', club responds
Man City vs. Man Utd confirmed XIs: Foden decision made, Amorim makes four changes
Saturday's Major League Soccer predictions including Inter Miami vs. New England
Premier League Table

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .