Two sides separated by three points in the Major League Soccer Easter Conference standings will do battle at the Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, as Charlotte FC welcome Chicago Fire.
The hosts have dropped to seventh spot following four straight league defeats, while their visitors sit 11th and within touching distance of the top seven thanks to a return to winning ways last time out.
Match preview
© Imago
Charlotte FC return to action on Saturday at the Bank of America Stadium aiming to end a league losing run after making a positive start to their 2025 MLS campaign.
Following a fifth-placed conference finish and first-round playoff exit last year, the Crown began the new term quickly, earning 19 points from their first nine outings courtesy of six victories alongside just two defeats.
That impressive opening run culminated in three straight victories over Nashville SC, CF Montreal and San Diego FC in April, but they have since suffered four consecutive defeats, only separated by a US Open Cup win over North Carolina after extra time.
Dean Smith's side would fail to build on that cup triumph, going on to lose 2-1 to Nashville SC on their MLS return, before most recently visiting Orlando City on Wednesday and again leaving empty-handed following a 3-1 defeat, as Wilfried Zaha reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the first half, only for Ramiro Enrique to put the game out of sight eight minutes from time.
Still sitting seventh in the conference thanks to their strong start, but with the confidence and momentum from that run having been lost, Charlotte FC will bid to get back to their best on Saturday and rejoin the division's frontrunners with a seventh MLS win of the season.
© Imago
Their visitors, meanwhile, make the trip in search of back-to-back MLS victories and three consecutive wins in all competitions after a tough start to their campaign.
From their opening 11 games of the 2025 term, Chicago Fire earned just 13 points, thanks to three victories in March, before going on to endure a six-match winless run which included a 7-2 thrashing at the hands of Nashville SC late last month.
Then following a goalless draw with Orlando City, the Fire were eventually able to get back to winning ways in the US Open Cup, advancing past Detroit City FC to the final 16 with a 4-0 triumph, thanks to goals from Hugo Cuypers, Omari Glasgow and Maren Haile-Selassie alongside a Darren Smith own goal.
Atlanta United then visited Soldier Field last time out, and Gregg Berhalter's side made it back-to-back wins in a tougher test, eventually coming out as 2-1 victors as Rominigue Kouame restored their lead four minutes from time after Sam Rogers's own goal cancelled out Cuypers's opener.
Having now moved to within two points of ninth spot in the Eastern Conference and three behind their seventh-placed hosts, Chicago Fire will hope to continue their climb with another MLS triumph on Saturday.
- W
- W
- L
- L
- L
- L
- W
- L
- L
- W
- L
- L
- L
- D
- L
- L
- D
- W
- D
- L
- L
- D
- W
- W
Team News
© Imago
Charlotte FC continue to deal with a long injury list, as Nimfasha Berchimas, Nathan Byrne, Brandon Cambridge, Soulemayne Doumbia, Jahlane Forbes and Tyger Smalls are all set to remain confined to the treatment room.
Ander Privett should again get the nod alongside 68-capped USA veteran Tim Ream at the heart of a back four, while Brandt Bronico will hope to continue alongside mainstay Ashley Westwood in the engine room.
Patrick Agyemang could displace Idan Gorno and lead the line with support from danger men Pep Biel, Liel Abada and Wilfried Zaha, who netted the fourth goal of his loan spell from Galatasaray in their 3-1 defeat last time out.
Chicago Fire also have several injury issues to deal with, as Leonardo Barroso, Chase Gasper, David Poreba and Carlos Teran remain sidelined.
Hugo Cuypers will continue to lead their attack, with only two players topping his tally of eight goals in 12 MLS appearances so far this term, including four in the last five outings.
He will be joined in attack by Philip Zinckernagel and former Lille and Celta Vigo man Jonathan Bamba, while Mauricio Pineda rejoined Brian Gutierrez and Sergio Oregel in the engine room last time out.
Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Malanda, Privett, Ream, Marshall-Rutty; Westwood, Bronico; Abada, Biel, Zaha; Agyemang
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Gal; Dean, Rogers, Elliott, Gutman; Oregel, Gutierrez, Pineda; Zinckernagel, Cuypers, Bamba
We say: Charlotte FC 1-1 Chicago Fire
The hosts are still battling to end a rut as their visitors did last time out, but we see a share of the spoils between two well-matched sides as the most likely outcome at the Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
