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Match Preview

Two soccer players jostle for the ball during a game

Fire at D.C.: Tactics and Starting XI

In the main match preview, I noted that D.C. has the second longest active playoff drought in the league, after the Fire, and in trying to get back to the postseason, they essentially pursued opposite strategies: The Fire made more changes to the squad, particularly at the top end,

A Colmubus Crew player anglesf or the ball against Chicago Fire players Fabian Herbers and Mauricio Pineda during a soccer ga

Fire vs Columbus: Tactics and Starting XI

After the loss in St. Louis, Frank Klopas and Xherdan Shaqiri both mentioned that it was still “early” in the season, causing me to do a bit of math. With two matches coming up that week, if the Fire won both, they’d have to be a slightly-better-than-average MLS team

two soccer players josttle for the ball during an MLS game

Fire vs Charlotte: Tactics and Starting XI

The Fire are back home for the first of two matches this week. Looking for just their third win of the season – and first in more than a month – the team’s first midweek match of the season comes against Charlotte, a team that has been humming under new Head

Chicago Fire soccer player Arnaud Souqeut advances the ball during a soccer game against St. Louis City FC

Fire at St. Louis City: Tactics and Starting XI

After a three match homestand that was rendered distinctly anhedonic for hometown fans by the Fire’s inability to score a goal during the stretch, the team is back on the road to face their nearest – and newest – MLS neighbor in St. Louis City, a developing rival that the team

Two soccer players go for the ball during a rainy soccer game

Fire vs. New England: Tactics and Starting XI

Before the start of the Fire’s current three-game homestand, I wrote that the team should be looking for seven points out of the three: Although five would likely put the team high enough in the standings to be in one of the playoff spots, given the homefield advantage, the

Two soccer players jostle for the ball during a game

Fire at Atlanta: Tactics and Starting XI

The phrase “must-win” is a cliché but with Atlanta winless in their last three – since their 3-0 thrashing of the Fire – and with the Fire looking to bounce back from their worst home loss in seven years – tonight’s matchup is as close to a “must win” game as possible

Chicago Fire players celebrate after a game against Real Salt Lake

Fire vs Real Salt Lake: Tactics and Starting XI

Update: It has been confirmed that Maren Haile-Selassie is out for the match with an injury. The post has been updated to reflect this. The Fire host Real Salt Lake in the first test of a three game homestand that – not to be dramatic – is crucial if they want to