The Chicago Fire's final stretch of the 2020 regular season kicks off Saturday night at Soldier Field, when they'll host the New York Red Bulls at 6:30 p.m. CT on WGN and ESPN+.
Saturday's match is the first of five that head coach Raphael Wicky and his side will play over the next two weeks as they charge toward Decision Day on Nov. 8. Currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings, the Fire will look to lock down another three points at home and give themselves some breathing room above the playoff line.
With kickoff at Soldier Field coming soon, here's how Wicky will deploy his starting XI this evening:
- The Fire will begin with two changes made from the lineup that drew 2-2 with Sporting Kansas City last Sunday. Midfielder Djordje MihailoviÄ and PrzemysĆaw Frankowski returning to the opening XI, while CJ Sapong and Wyatt Omsberg are unavailable for selection this evening. Sapong was granted an excused absence to be with his newborn daughter.
- Forward Robert BeriÄ scored his eighth goal of the 2020 season last weekend against SKC, which is currently tied for the fourth-highest total in MLS. He makes his 18th start of the season in attack tonight.
- Defender Jonathan Bornstein makes the 150th regular season appearance of his MLS career, dating back to the 2006 season with Chivas USA. He lines up out wide defensively as part of tonight's starting lineup opposite Boris SekuliÄ.
- After a match spent in midfield last Sunday, Mauricio Pineda returns to central defense alongside captain Francisco Calvo.
- MihailoviÄ will slot in next to Ălvaro MedrĂĄnin midfield, who adds to his shared team lead in starts this season by earning his 19th. MedrĂĄn and Pineda are the only two Fire players to start every match so far in 2020.
- Opposite Frankowski on the wing is Ignacio Aliseda, who makes his 14th start of the season. The pair will be joined by Fabian Herbers, who slots in centrally in his seventh straight start.
- Goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth makes his 198th career MLS regular season appearance as tonight's starter in net.
- New arrival Carlos TerĂĄn has been included in Wicky's matchday roster for the first time, and is available for selection this evening.
- Also available to Wicky as substitutions tonight are midfielders Micheal Azira, Javier Casas Jr., Brian Gutiérrez and Elliot Collier, defenders Nicholas Slonina, Miguel Navarro, andAndre Reynolds IIand goalkeeperConnor Sparrow.
- Gastón Giménez remains in quarantine following his returns to Chicago from international duty with Paraguay, and is unavailable this evening.
- GoalkeeperKenneth Kronholm, defenders Johan Kappelhof and Wyatt Omsberg, and midfielders Luka StojanoviÄand Brandt Bronicoare not medically cleared for tonight's match.
Get a look at both team's starting lineups as they're available in the graphics below:
