After a nice international break where Atlanta United definitely didn’t do anything noteworthy like – oh, I dunno, lose on the road without half of its starters – its finally time to get back to business. And by business I mean winning.
Chicago is back in town as the Five Stripes look to extend their perfect home record this season and maybe recover some ground in the standings with three points. Although the Fire have been a very mediocre team over the past few years, they shouldn’t be underestimated this time around as they’ve got probably their best roster in over a decade. And despite a lackluster start to the season, they have been known to pull a few surprises from time to time.
Fortunately, Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a closed roof, which means Atlanta won’t have to worry about something like this:
Players to Watch
The Fire’s biggest move of the offseason was undoubtedly the $12 million club-record signing of Belgian striker Hugo Cuypers (2 goals) from Gent. His transfer adds a true No. 9 that knows how to find the back of the net. The 27-year-old will play in front of the existing attacking talent of former Liverpool and Bayern Munich midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri (1 goal) and US talent Brian Gutierrez (2 goals, 1 assist).
Shaqiri’s Swiss compatriot, Maren Haile-Selassie (1 goal, 1 assist), presents a big test for Atlanta’s Caleb Wiley. The 25-year-old was Chicago’s leading goal scorer in 2023 with 6 goals and 3 assists. His creativity and excellent passing have him leading the Fire in expected assists (1.1), key passes (7) and shot-creating actions (14) this season.
The Chicago’s front four are great, but the player on fire at the moment is midfielder Fabian Herbers. The German has 2 goals and 2 assists this season because he just instinctively knows the right places to be inside the box to put away any cutbacks or loose balls. Alongside US international and former LAFC midfielder Kellyn Acosta, Herbers is responsible for a lot of Chicago’s vertical movement with 19 progressive passes and 12 passes into the penalty area in 2024.
The Stats
The History
The Five Stripes carry a 7-5-2 advantage in the all-time series against the Fire. At home, the scales tip significantly more to Atlanta’s side with a 6-1-0 record (with the one loss occurring in the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup). The last time Atlanta United hosted this match, it emerged with a 2-1 victory thanks to a last-minute own goal by Haile-Selassie on April 23, 2023.
Availability Reports
*As of 3/29/2024. Will be updated when official availability reports drop.
Atlanta United
Out:
- Stian Gregersen (meniscus surgery)
- Daniel Rios (calf tightness)
Chicago Fire
Out:
- Victor Bezerra (right upper leg)
- Andrew Gutman (upper leg)
- Wyatt Omsberg (leg)
Predicted Lineups
Atlanta United Predicted XI
Chicago Fire Predicted XI
Score Predictions
Jackson (6 points): 3-2 Atlanta
Tommy (5 points): 4-1 Atlanta
Sydney (4 points): 3-1 Atlanta
Calum (3 points): 2-1 Atlanta
Henry (3 points): 3-1 Atlanta
Tyler (2 points): 2-0 Atlanta
What do you think? Post your score predictions, thoughts and more in the comments below!
[…] Match Preview: Atlanta United vs Chicago Fire […]
I don’t know about easy, but I bet we win.
Giorgos with a brace, Almada with a goal and an assist. Lennon and Saba with one assist each. Caleb Wiley scores.
4-1 good guys.
I have to renew my MLS package to be able to watch….do I?
I think you should but I’m not sure that you should really solicit input here. Your alternative is either the radio or nothing. If you can’t make up your mind, maybe the most honest answer for you is “No”. Can you really contribute in a meaningful way here if you never watch the matches and only listen on the radio or watch limited highlights on the MLS website?
Awfully optimistic! This is at home and essentially our starting XI, so I will join the good vibes. 😎
3-0 just because it wasn’t already on the board…