Chicago Fire will be looking to snap a three-game winless streak and get themselves back to winning ways when they play host to FC Cincinnati in round nine of the 2024-25 Major League Soccer season.
The away side, meanwhile, have recovered from a slow start to proceedings and will head to Soldier Field this weekend in search of a fourth straight league victory.
Match preview
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After relinquishing 1-0 and 2-1 leads en route to a 4-2 defeat against Columbus Crew in their curtain-raiser, Chicago Fire looked set to continue the dismal run of form that saw them win just one of their final 13 matches last season.
However, three wins and a draw from their subsequent four matches signalled a change in fortune for Gregg Berhalter's men, who have, however, failed to win since beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 on March 23.
The Men in Red battled hard to come away with a point from their most recent outing against Inter Miami on Sunday and could have easily secured all three points but for some wasteful finishing in front of goal.
Twelve points from a possible 24 so far just about represents a decent return for Chicago Fire, but they still have some glaring weaknesses to work on, starting with a shambolic defensive unit which has managed only one clean sheet all season long.
Still awaiting their first win in front of their fans this term, Sunday's hosts have only one mission this weekend, but their home record against the away side hints at a difficult outing off the back of four defeats from the last five matches.
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With the added burden of CONCACAF Champions Cup involvement, Cincinnati had a hectic start to the campaign, taking to the field seven times across all competitions over a 20-day span from February 20 to March 12.
A 4-2 defeat to Mexican outfit Tigres relieved Pat Noonan's men of their continental commitment, during which they won two of their opening three league matches either side of a 4-1 defeat to Philadelphia Union.
The Knifey Lions were beaten 2-0 by Charlotte in their first domestic outing following the end of their international adventure, but they have since got the better of Nashville SC, New England Revolution and most recently DC United, picking up 10 points from the last 12 available.
Having recorded clean sheets in each of their most recent two matches, Cincinnati have taken their tally of games without conceding a goal to four, the joint-most of any MLS team heading into this weekend's action.
Two points adrift of conference leaders Columbus Crew, Sunday's visitors currently sit third in the East as they target playoff football for the fourth season in seven years since their introduction to the top tier of American football.
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Team News
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Chase Gasper and Leonardo Barroso are ruled out for the home side with ankle and groin injuries respectively, although the latter is closing in on a return to action.
David Poreba (knee) and Jonathan Dean (chest) are also unavailable for the home side, who have been without the services of Chris Mueller for a while due to personal reasons.
Hugo Cuypers has been directly involved in seven (five goals, two assists) of his side's 14 goals so far, making the Belgian one to keep an eye on in this weekend's contest.
Yuya Kubo (knee) and Obinna Nwobodo (hamstring) are guaranteed absentees for Cincinnati as both men suffered injury problems at different stages of last month.
Twenty-six-year-old midfielder Evander is set to sit out a third consecutive match for the away side but is not far off making a comeback from a knee problem.
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Gutman, Teran, Elliott, Glasgow: Gutierrez, Oregel, Pineda; Zinckernagel, Cuypers, Bamba
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Flores, Hagglund, Robinson; Valenzuela, Yedlin, Anunga, Engel, Bucha; Denkey, Orellano
We say: Chicago Fire 1-1 FC Cincinnati
Chicago Fire have been the better of the two teams in attack, but Cincinnati have had the upper hand from a defensive perspective.
We are backing a share of the spoils with honours even at the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adepoju Marvellous
