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Major League Soccer
Feb 25, 2024 at 12.30am UK
Subaru Park
CF

Philadelphia
2 - 2
Chicago Fire

Uhre (55'), Gazdag (90+3')
Andres Martinez (86')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Gutierrez (39'), Herbers (82')
Pineda (45'), Brady (69')

Preview: Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire - prediction, team news, lineups

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

The Chicago Fire can end a lengthy winless run at Subaru Park when they open their MLS campaign by visiting the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.

Philly exited the 2023 domestic campaign with a 1-0 defeat versus FC Cincinnati in the second round of the playoffs, while Chicago finished third from bottom in the Eastern Conference with 40 points.


Match preview

By all accounts, 2023 was a let-down for the Union, who were minutes away from capturing their first MLS Cup in 2022 while being knocked in the second round of the post-season the last time out, their earliest exit since 2020 (first round).

One thing Jim Curtin will be able to count upon once again this year is some solid continuity within this group, with the core of this team still intact.

Last year, the Union finished the regular season with 55 points, a dozen fewer than in 2022, while conceding 41 goals over the previous campaign, the most for this club in a single season since 2019 (50).

The Boys in Blue have not missed the MLS Cup playoffs since 2017 and have not finished outside of the top four in the Eastern Conference since 2018 (sixth).

While the Union have been among the MLS Cup contenders over the past few seasons, there is a belief that their window of opportunity could soon be closing, raising the sense of urgency in 2024.

They have won eight of their last nine regular season home contests against the Fire, blanking them 1-0 in this exact fixture last year.

Having missed the playoffs on six successive occasions, the hope for the Chicago Fire is that things can only go up from here.

In 2023, they were near the bottom in virtually every chance creation metric, and time will tell if they can improve in that department this season.

Frank Klopas was named the full-time head coach in the off-season despite his side winning just two of their final 11 regular season fixtures in 2023.

Chicago suffered 10 domestic defeats away from home last season, the third-most in the Eastern Conference behind Inter Miami (12) and CF Montreal (13).

Not since 2009 have the Fire won their opening MLS fixture (3-1 over Dallas), claiming a single point in their last three season openers.

It has been over a decade since this side last claimed three points in a regular season fixture at Subaru Park, defeating the Union 2-1 during the 2013 domestic campaign.

Philadelphia Union Pre-season form:
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D

Philadelphia Union form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W

Chicago Fire Pre-season form:
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W


Team News

Leon Flach is questionable for the Union after tearing a muscle at the start of February, while Jakob Glesnes injured his core.

They made a few minor moves during the off-season, signing Sanders Ngabo from Lyngby in Denmark, while re-signing Kai Wagner and Alejandro Bedoya.

Andres Perea is out, signing a permanent deal with New York City FC, while Brandan Craig will spend the year on loan at El Paso Locomotive in the United Soccer League (USL).

Chris Mueller and Victor Bezerra missed a good portion of last season for the Chicago Fire with hip and leg injuries, respectively.

Tobias Salquist joins the Fire from the Danish Superliga, Andrew Gutman is back in his home state, Hugo Cuypers will be counted upon to score, coming from Gent in the Belgian Pro League for a reported $12m (£9.5m), while Kellyn Acosta will add some championship pedigree to this squad.

The club mutually terminated the contract of Jairo Torres, traded Miguel Navarro to the Colorado Rapids, while Kei Kamara was not offered a new deal and Ousmane Doumbia moved to FC Lugano in Switzerland.

Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Harriel, Mbaizo, Elliott, Wagner; Martinez; Bedoya, McGlynn; Uhre, Gazdag, Carranza

Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Arigoni, Salquist, Czichos, Gutman; Navarro, Acosta; Shaqiri, Gutierrez, Haile-Selassie; Cuypers


We say: Philadelphia Union 1-0 Chicago Fire

There are too many unknowns in Chicago right now, so we are going with the Union, who have been among the most consistent MLS sides in the regular season.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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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
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