Preview:Chicago Fire vs St Louis City - prediction, team news, lineups

Soldier Field will once again host a pivotal Major League Soccer contest on Sunday, as Chicago Fire aim to keep their postseason push alive against a St Louis City side still searching for answers away from home.

With the playoff picture tightening, the Fire have the chance to reinforce their home advantage, while the visitors will be desperate to reverse a damaging run of road form that has undercut their season.

Match preview

Gregg Berhalter’s men have found a measure of stability in recent weeks, piecing together a run of two victories, three draws and just a single defeat from their last six matches.

That sequence has owed much to a more compact defensive shape, with the Fire conceding at a rate of 1.17 goals per game during that spell, a notable improvement from earlier in the campaign.

Goals have arrived with greater regularity too, helping them keep pace in the congested Eastern Conference standings.

Chicago’s home return has been mixed in recent outings, splitting their last three at Soldier Field between a win, a draw and a loss.

Nevertheless, they have reason to be confident when Saint Louis come to town. The Fire have beaten their visitors in both previous MLS encounters at this venue, extending a flawless home record against them in the competition.

Add in two wins from the last three head-to-heads overall, and there is a clear historical tilt in their favour.

The hosts begin the weekend in ninth spot, with 10 wins, six draws and nine defeats from 25 games.

That record is underpinned by an average of 1.88 goals scored per match and a positive goal difference of +5, signalling a balance between attack and defence that has often deserted them in previous campaigns.

In stark contrast, Saint Louis City’s momentum has been eroded by inconsistency. Four defeats in their last six league fixtures tell the story of a side that can still threaten in the final third—averaging 1.33 goals in that period—but has struggled to lock the back door.

Conceding cheaply has placed a heavier burden on their forward line, and they have yet to find a sustainable formula away from Missouri.

David Critchley’s men are languishing in 14th place in the Western Conference, burdened by just five wins and six draws alongside 14 losses.

With a modest scoring average of 1.08 goals per outing and a -14 goal difference, their defensive vulnerability has been as damaging as their blunt edge in front of goal.

A run of three straight away defeats, in which they have scored a meagre 0.67 goals per game, hardly inspires belief.

Saint Louis’s picture is bleaker. Winless in 83% of their previous 23 league games, they have suffered defeat in 80% of their last 15 away days.

Only once in that sequence have they emerged with anything other than zero points, a measure of their troubles on the road.

Chicago Fire Major League Soccer form:

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Chicago Fire form (all competitions):

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St Louis City Major League Soccer form:

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Team News

Chicago will be without goalkeeper Chris Brady, who is on international duty, while midfielder David Poreba remains sidelined through injury and winger Chris Mueller is unavailable due to personal leave.

In Brady’s absence, Jeffrey Gal is expected to take the gloves, shielded by a back four of Leonardo Barroso, Carlos Teran, Jack Elliott and Andrew Gutman.

For Saint Louis City, Jeong Sang-Bin and Rasmus Alm are both unavailable, trimming Bradley Carnell’s attacking options.

Veteran stopper Roman Burki should continue in goal, behind a defensive line featuring Conrad Wallem, Jaziel Orozco, Timo Baumgartl and Devin Padelford.

Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:

Gal; Barroso, Teran, Elliott, Gutman; Oregel, D’Avilla, Gutierrez; Zinckernagel, Cuypers, Bamba

St Louis City possible starting lineup:

Burki; Wallem, Orozco, Baumgartl, Padelford; Ostrak, Lowen; Pompeu, Hartel, Morales; Klauss

We say: Chicago Fire 3-0 St Louis City

Given their superior form and flawless home record against these opponents, Chicago will be expected to dictate proceedings and exploit Saint Louis’s travel sickness.

The visitors’ inability to keep clean sheets away from home is likely to prove costly once more, and with the Fire’s attack functioning smoothly, another comfortable win for the hosts appears the most plausible outcome.

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