Chicago Fire welcome Orlando City to Soldier Field in Major League Soccer at 00:30 UK time on Thursday 29 October. Orlando have conceded 2.32 goals a game, the 2nd most in MLS, while Chicago are 4th in the Eastern Conference on 51 points from 31 games.
Orlando are 7th in the Eastern Conference on 42 points, and they score 1.94 a game, the 6th most in MLS. Both teams have scored in 71% of each side's games this season, the 6th highest rate in MLS for both of them.
Chicago Fire have won 15 of 31, drawn 6 and lost 10, with 55 scored and 46 conceded. Their 4th place in the Eastern Conference comes with the 11th fewest goals against and the 8th highest clean-sheet rate, at 23%. Over 2.5 goals has landed in 74% of their games, the 3rd highest rate in the league.
Chicago won 3-2 away at Atlanta in their latest game, but before that lost 1-0 at New England and 3-1 at home to Philadelphia. Before the Philadelphia defeat came wins over NYCFC (2-1) and Vancouver (3-1) at Soldier Field. Their shots on target average of 5.19 a game is the 8th most in MLS.
Orlando City have won 12, drawn 6 and lost 13, scoring 60 and conceding 72. They are unbeaten in their last four: a 2-2 draw with NYCFC, a 4-1 win over DC United, a 3-3 draw at Toronto and a 3-2 win over Columbus. The 4-2 defeat at Philadelphia in late September is the last time they lost.
Orlando's clean-sheet rate is just 13%, the 8th lowest, and over 2.5 goals has come in 77% of their matches, the 2nd highest in the league. They also take the fewest corners of any side in MLS, at 3.97 a game.
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Dean, Mbokazi, Hanche-Olsen, Gutman; Salétros, D'Avilla, Mekvabishvili; Haile-Selassie, Gomez, Lewandowski
Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Crépeau; Taifi, Brekalo, MarÃn; Gerbet, Cartagena, Atuesta; Angulo, Ojeda, Griezmann; Dike
MartÃn Ojeda has had a shot on target in 15 straight games, and he averages 1.7 a game. He is 1.36 at Ladbrokes to make it 16, and he has also had two or more shots in each of his last eight.
Antoine Griezmann has managed two or more shots in 15 straight games, averaging 2.9, and is 1.25 at Midnite to do it again. His last five have gone 2, 3, 2, 2, 3.
Robert Lewandowski has had a shot in ten consecutive games, averaging 2.1, and is 1.01 at Midnite to extend it.
Maren Haile-Selassie has registered a shot in 12 straight games, averaging 2.8, and is 1.03 at bet365.
In midfield, Anzor Mekvabishvili has committed at least one foul in each of his last five games, with 3, 2, 1, 4 and 4, and is 1.33 at Midnite.
We back Chicago Fire to win, with the best price 1.51 at bet365. We give them a 63% chance of winning, with the draw at 19% and Orlando at 18%.
| Market | Best price | Statz chance |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Fire win | 1.51 (bet365) | 63% |
| Draw | 4.75 (midnite) | 19% |
| Orlando City win | 5.25 (bet365) | 18% |
| Both teams to score | 1.36 (bet365) | 71% |
| Over 2.5 goals | 1.25 (bet365) | 77% |
We expect goals at both ends. Our projection has Chicago on 2.63 and Orlando on 1.40, and with the visitors conceding so freely it fits that both sides are likely to score. Chicago are projected to take 19.9 shots, 7.4 of them on target, against 12.2 and 4.6 for Orlando.
Our prediction is a 2-1 Chicago Fire win, the likeliest single scoreline at 8.6%, with 3-1 and 1-1 the next most likely.
Iván Angulo has made a tackle in eight straight games, averaging 3 a game, and has had a shot in four of his last five games. Midnite offer 1.30 on him to have a shot.