Chicago Fire FC vs New York Red Bulls – Match Preview

Major League Soccer’s Round 1 presents a thrilling opener. Chicago Fire FC will face New York Red Bulls at Soldier Field on Saturday, September 15th. The game starts at 00:30 GMT. Chicago Fire, ranked 27th with 26 points, seeks to use their home advantage to move up. The 9th-placed Red Bulls, with 43 points, aim to strengthen their league position. Both teams are eyeing a spot in the top six, making this match key for gaining early momentum.

Chicago Fire FC – Form

Chicago Fire FC’s recent performance has been disappointing. They have earned just one point from the last nine available. On September 8, they faced a 2:1 defeat against DC United at Soldier Field, contrary to expectations. Andrew Gutman scored the only goal for the home team. Before this, they lost 4:1 to Inter Miami CF, with Georgios Koutsias scoring. A 2:2 draw against New York City FC followed, thanks to Hugo Cuypers and Brian Gutierrez.

New York Red Bulls – Form

The New York Red Bulls have shown mixed results lately. Their game on September 7th against Sporting Kansas City ended in a 1:1 draw, as expected by bookmakers. An away game at Charlotte FC on August 24th also ended in a 1:1 draw, with Elias Manoel scoring the equalizer. A 0:2 loss to the Philadelphia Union on August 31st ended their 12-game unbeaten streak, surprising many.

Chicago Fire FC – New York Red Bulls – Head to Head

The last encounter between Chicago Fire FC and New York Red Bulls was on April 13, 2024. It ended in a goalless draw. In their last 10 meetings, both teams have won 3 times each, with 4 matches ending in a draw. This shows a closely contested rivalry. In the recent 5 head-to-head matchups, both teams scored in 3 games. Chicago Fire FC has scored in 14 of their last 16 home matches against the Red Bulls. In 7 of the last 8 matches between these two, there were under 3.5 goals, indicating a trend towards lower-scoring games.

Chicago Fire FC – New York Red Bulls – Standings

As the season progresses, Chicago Fire FC is in 27th place with 26 points from 28 matches. This position is below their preseason expectations. On the other hand, the New York Red Bulls are in 9th place with 43 points, meeting their mid-table expectations with hopes for the top 6. The 17-point gap between the teams highlights their different performances. Both teams are keen to earn points in their upcoming clash at Soldier Field.

Chicago Fire FC vs New York Red Bulls – Top scorers

Hugo Cuypers leads the scoring for the home team with 10 goals. Brian Gutierrez and Maren Haile-Selassie have also made significant contributions, with 6 and 5 goals respectively. Kellyn Acosta and Fabian Herbers have each added two goals, showing the team’s scoring depth.

For the Red Bulls, midfielder Lewis Morgan is the top scorer with 12 goals. Emil Forsberg and Elias Manoel have contributed 6 goals each. Cameron Harper has added 5 goals, and Wikelman Carmona has scored 3, highlighting the team’s varied attack.

Chicago Fire FC vs New York Red Bulls – Full-Time Betting

Bookmakers’ odds are 2.70 for a Chicago Fire FC win, 3.50 for a draw, and 2.50 for a New York Red Bulls victory. The odds slightly favor an away win, considering both teams’ form. Chicago Fire’s recent struggles and the Red Bulls’ higher rank suggest the visitors might edge out in this opener.

For alternative betting markets, “halftime-fulltime” options are 3.25 for a home lead at halftime and 3.00 for the Red Bulls. “Draw-no-bet” odds are 1.909 for Chicago Fire FC and 1.80 for New York Red Bulls. The “double-chance” market offers 1.50 for a Chicago win or draw and 1.286 for a Red Bulls win or draw.

Chicago Fire FC vs New York Red Bulls – Over/Under Betting

The Over/Under betting market offers interesting options. With 7 of the last 8 meetings seeing under 3.5 goals, the trend suggests a lower-scoring game. Chicago Fire’s 34 goals scored and 50 conceded suggest potential for a higher-scoring affair, with Over 2.5 odds at 1.727. The Red Bulls’ balanced 44 goals for and 35 against suggest the Under 2.5 option, priced at 2.075, might be appealing. The Under 3.5 at 1.40 could attract bets, reflecting the common outcome in their encounters.

Chicago Fire FC vs New York Red Bulls – BTTS Betting

Bookmakers set the odds for BTTS (both teams to score) at 1.615 for “Yes” and 2.20 for “No.” In 4 out of the last 10 head-to-head matchups, both teams scored. Chicago Fire FC has scored in their last 4 home games against the Red Bulls. Given the teams’ current form and past results, “BTTS: Yes” at 1.615 seems likely, though caution is advised due to recent scoring challenges.

Chicago Fire FC vs New York Red Bulls – Prediction