The Fire will be back in action at SeatGeek Stadium this Saturday night as they play host to Inter Miami CF for just the fourth all-time meeting between the clubs.
Miami is in a dogfight for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, as they are just three points off of seventh place and currently sit in ninth.
They had their game with Orlando City postponed this past weekend in light of Orlando’s U.S. Open Cup Final match against Sacramento, so they should be fresh.
Here’s what to look for in the Gerber Collision and Glass Scouting Report:
LAST TIME OUT
The first meeting between these two teams was all the way back on Feb. 27 in Week 1 of the season.
It is difficult to pull anything from that match from a stylistic or tactical standpoint, but what we did learn from the 0-0 draw is that the game was expansive and entertaining.
Both teams created more than enough opportunities in order to win the game, and we saw some excellent play from both Xherdan Shaqiri and Gonzalo Higuain - two of the highest paid players in the league.
WHAT THEY’VE BEEN UP TO SINCE
It’s been nearly seven months since these sides have seen each other, and Miami have certainly outperformed a lot of people’s expectations given the financial restrictions that were handed down from the league.
They picked up some much-needed attacking reinforcements in the midfield with the acquisition of 2020 MLS MVP Alejandro Pozuelo from Toronto FC. Miami paid $150k of GAM in exchange for a loan deal for the Spaniard with the option to purchase the Designated Player at the end of the season.
Pozuelo has offered up that connection between the midfield and attack. However, he did not feature on the team sheet for Phil Neville’s side against Columbus. Pozuelo has made eight starts in eight appearances and has registered two goals and four assists so far this season.
Miami has been going back-and forth between a three- or five-back system. They played three against Columbus in that massive “six pointer,” and conceded the lone goal of the game to Luis Diaz.
Miami has been pretty inconsistent this year, but they have rattled off some very impressive wins like 3-1 at the New York Red Bulls, 2-1 against Toronto FC, and 3-2 against reigning champs New York City FC.
Leonardo Campana is listed as “out” for the game this weekend, and Gonzalo Higuaín is questionable. Those are the two strikers Neville has been relying upon and the two have combined for 18 goals and five assists so far.
MLS SuperDraft pick Ryan Sailor out of University of Washington has emerged as a reliable piece along the backline, with Damion Lowe and Chris McVey in a three-back set up. If it is four, Lowe and McVey have been paired together along with Lowe and Sailor.
Deandre Yedlin, who is having an all-star caliber season, loves to get up and down the right flank while Robert Taylor or Chris McVey is his counterpart on the lefthand side, depending on what formation they play.
Gregore breaks up the play in the middle of the field with Jean Mota acting in a bit more of a box-to-box fashion. In a 4-2-3-1 like we saw against TFC, Mota and Gregore will hold while Pozuelo will play in the No. 10.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Fire will most certainly have their work cut out for them having gone dry in the goals department, paired with the absence of Fabian Herbers. Chicago will be short-handed once again, and are going up against a well-rested side that has everything to play for.
The Fire need to start producing more opportunities and being a bit more ruthless in front of goal if they want to play spoiler or keep their playoff hopes alive.
Tony Meola and I will have you covered on WGN and CF97 Live at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday night.
