Sports Mole previews Saturday’s MLS Playoffs clash between New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Still reeling from their heartbreaking loss in the last outing, New York Red Bulls welcome Chicago Fire for matchday seven of Major League Soccer, determined to provide the perfect response.
The Red Bulls suffered a last-gasp 2-1 defeat against New England Revolution last weekend, marking their second loss of the campaign.
Match preview
© Imago
Following their defeat in the MLS Cup final, the Red Bulls opened the 2025 season with a loss to FC Cincinnati but found stability in their next four games, securing victories over Toronto and Nashville SC while drawing against Atlanta United and New York City FC.
Sandro Schwarz‘s men seemed on course for another point last time out when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting‘s strike before half time cancelled out New England’s opener, only for Carles Gil to land a crushing blow from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
That result leaves RBNY 18th in the overall standings with eight points, having found the net seven times and conceded six, with their plus-one goal difference keeping them in the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference ahead of 10th-placed New York City.
The Metro have been resolute at Sports Illustrated Stadium this season, winning two and drawing the other, while they are currently enjoying a four-match MLS home unbeaten streak dating back to November 2024.
Saturday presents a chance to snap a six-game winless run against Chicago Fire, with their last triumph in this fixture coming in 2022.
© Imago
The Men in Red ran out 2-1 winners in the most recent encounter between these sides and could now claim back-to-back victories over RBNY for the first time since 2021.
Like the hosts, Chicago Fire began their 2025 campaign with defeat but have since remained unbeaten, extending their streak to five games with a 1-1 draw against CF Montreal last time out.
Gregg Berhalter‘s side have amassed 11 points from three wins, two draws and one loss, placing them fourth in the Eastern Conference and seventh in the overall standings.
Their impressive start has been fuelled by attacking prowess, netting 13 times to stand as the joint second most prolific side in their conference.
With all three of their wins this season coming on the road, Chicago arrive full of confidence and will be looking to make their dominance away from home count once again.
New York Red Bulls form (all competitions):
Chicago Fire form (all competitions):
Team News
© Imago
New York Red Bulls will be without Cameron Harper, Roald Mitchell, Marcelo Morales, Lewis Morgan and Kyle Duncan, who are all sidelined with knee injuries.
Dennis Gjengaar returned from international duty with an illness that kept him out of the previous game, making his availability on Saturday uncertain.
Captain Emil Forsberg has been a standout performer for RBNY, leading the team with three goals, while Choupo-Moting has struck twice, and both will be aiming to steer the side to victory as they seek to add to their tallies.
Jonathan Dean, Chase Gasper, Brian Gutierrez, Chris Mueller, David Poreba and Kellyn Acosta are expected absentees for Chicago Fire.
Philip Zinckernagel is a doubt after being forced off last time out, with Maren Haile-Selassie, who replaced him in that encounter, likely to start here.
Hugo Cuypers has been the Fire’s most lethal threat, finding the net five times to sit joint second in the league’s scoring charts, and he will be eager to extend his rich vein of form in front of goal.
New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Coronel; Hack, S. Nealis, Eile; Edwards, Edelman, Stroud, D. Nealis; Carmona, Forsberg; Choupo-Moting
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Barroso, Rogers, Elliot, Gutman; Oregel, Pineda, Williams, Haile-Selassie, Cuypers, Bamba
We say: New York Red Bulls 2-2 Chicago Fire
With the Red Bulls strong at home and Chicago Fire thriving on the road, this promises to be an intriguing contest with plenty of goal action, though, with both sides evenly matched, a draw appears the most likely outcome.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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