The MLS match this midweek comes on Thursday night rather than the traditional Wednesday night. The clash sees a high flying Chicago Fire side hosting FC Dallas in a match which will give us a much clearer picture of the potential fortunes of the two sides this season.
Chicago Fire have been living up to their moniker in recent weeks and head into this match in very good form while FC Dallas lost for the first time at the weekend and will look to put that behind them here.
Chicago Fire
If you had said at the beginning of the season that after a dozen matches Chicago would be second in the Eastern Conference you would have got plenty of funny looks but that is the position they find themselves in. A run of three consecutive wins leading into this match is the main reason for that so confidence will be high.
The other reason why they are going so well in this campaign has been the excellent recruitment that they have put together both before the season began and during it. Bastian Schweinsteiger got all the coverage but there were other signings put in place to make Chicago a very efficient outfit all of a sudden.
FC Dallas
The last unbeaten start to the MLS season came to an end at the weekend when FC Dallas were beaten by San Jose Earthquakes and that now means that Dallas go into this match with just one win in their last four matches. That will be a concern for a side as good as they are and they’ll be out to put that right.
The obvious reason for their dip in form has been a lack of goals. They are defensively very strong and have only conceded seven goals in their 10 matches so far but just 14 goals isn’t a great return and they need to address that if they are to challenge strongly for the title. That said they have the players to score goals.
Team News
Chicago Fire head into this match without John Goossens who has had surgery on his right ankle. Juninho is questionable with a right ankle injury of his own but he is expected to be fit for the squad.
FC Dallas are going to be without a couple of midfielders who are out long term. They are Mauro Diaz and Paxton Pomykal but that aside they look at full strength.
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Betting
This is an interesting match. It sees one of the best attacking sides in Major League Soccer in Chicago Fire taking on arguably the best defence in FC Dallas. I’ve thought all season long that the Fire are dark horses for this campaign and they are proving me right so far but this will be the acid test of that.
If Chicago were a touch bigger I might have chanced my arm that their attack can expose this Dallas side but they are a little short in a match they are by no means certain to win. Instead of betting I’m going to sit this one out but keep a close eye on it for clues on just how serious a contender Chicago are this year.
Tips
No Bet
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