Two clubs separated by only four points in the Eastern Conference table meet at Soldier Field in the early hours of Sunday morning as ninth-placed Chicago Fire hosts fourth-placed Nashville in what promises to be an entertaining affair.
The Fire made it four wins from their past five MLS matches last time out, as they thrashed DC United 1-7 at Audi Field.
Whilst that was their sixth victory away from this season, Gregg Berhalter’s men have won just once on home soil – drawing on four occasions (W1-D4-L1) – but that solitary home success did come in their last outing at Soldier Field, claiming a late 2-1 victory over The Five Stripes.
Nashville failed to record their third consecutive victory in MLS last time out, as they threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to New York City FC.
Nevertheless, that draw did extend The Boys in Gold’s unbeaten run in MLS to eight matches (W5-D3-L0) and travel to Illinois off the back of successive 1-2 wins away from home at The Crew and struggling Toronto.
How the bookies view it: Tough one to call
The Bookmakers finds it hard to separate these two sides, with BoyleSports making The Fire marginal favourites at 13/10.
Nashville are a tad bigger, with the same firm pricing them at 6/4 to secure a third consecutive away win, whilst the draw is 5/2.
Head to head: The Fire looking for revenge
Chicago will be looking for revenge against Nashville this weekend, as they were thrashed 7-2 by The Coyotes at Geodis Park at the end of April.
Players to watch: Surridge to strike again
Sam Surridge has found the back of the net in each of his last three MLS contests, including a brace against New York City FC last time out. The Ex-Forest frontman also scored four against The Fire at the end of April and is an appealing 7/5 at BoyleSports to net here.
Philip Zinckernagel has found the back of the net in each of The Fire’s past four MLS encounters – as well as a consolation at that hammering in the reverse fixture – and is 5/2 at BoyleSports to find the target which appeals to me.
Predicted line-ups:
Gregg Berhalter will be sweating on the fitness of top-scorer Hugo Cuypers, who missed the thrashing of DC, and midfielder Romenique Kouame, who went off injured in that clash, but Sergio Oregel and Mauricio Pineda will be available.
The Boys in Gold will be without Walker Zimmerman and Jacob Shaffelburg, who have been called up to the Gold Cup by the USA and Canada, respectively.
Chicago Fire: Gal, Dean, Gonzales, Elliot, Gutman, Williams, Acosta, Haile-Selassie, Zinckernagel, Bamba, Barlow
Nashville SC: Willis, Najar, Palacios, Maher, Lovitz, Qasem, Corcoran, Tagseth, Muyi, Mukhtar, Surridge
Anything else catch the eye?
Chicago Fire’s opening 16 MLS matches this season have averaged a league-high 4.00 goals per game, with Both Teams to Score banking in a league-best 14 (88%) of them, whilst 13 (81%) have also seen Over 2.5 Goals payout.
Nashville’s previous 14 MLS clashes have averaged an eye-catching 3.29 goals per game, with Over 2.5 Goals paying out in 12 (86%) of them, whilst 11 (79%) in that 14-game sample have produced goals at both ends.
Both Teams to Score pays just 2/5, whilst Over 2.5 Goals is slightly better at 1/2, but combining both is 8/11 at BoyleSports, and that is my preferred way to approach this clash.
Chicago Fire vs Nashville SC Betting Tips & Predictions
Further Reading
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