Riding a streak of three straight victories, Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson and the Chicago Fire return to Soldier Field on Saturday afternoon looking for a fourth against visitors Atlanta United.
The Fire ran rampant last weekend in a trip to Canada to face the Vancouver Whitecaps, taking away all three points in a 3-1 win over their Western Conference counterparts. As a result, the Fire have climbed to within touching distance of the Eastern Conference playoff line, just two points behind FC Cincinnati in the seventh and final spot. Atlanta enter the match looking to make up ground in the East as well, with just one win in their last seven matches. As it stands, United sit in 12th place with 24 points through 21 matches played.
Today's afternoon kickoff is set for 4 p.m. CT, with broadcast coverage available on WGN, CF97 Live, Univision Radio, and MLS LIVE's out-of-market package on ESPN+.
As the opening whistle nears, all the details on today's starting XI and bench are below:
- One change has been made to today's XI compared to the one that was victorious in Vancouver last weekend. Young Designated Player Jairo Torres gets his second start of the season since his late Spring arrival, making his 10th appearance for the Club overall. He'll spell Brian Gutiérrez in midfield this evening.
- Alongside Torres in midfield are Xherdan Shaqiri and Chris Mueller, both of whom got on the scoresheet in last weekend's win. Shaqiri scored this first goal, while Mueller provided the last, and each player additionally came away with an assist on the evening. Shaqiri was named to the latest MLS Team of the Week for his efforts.
- Shaqiri was joined on the MLS Team of the Week by captain Rafael Czichos, who slots into his usual spot in central defense with goals scored in back-to-back matches. He'll partner with Carlos Terán today, with both flanked by Miguel Navarro and Boris Sekulić at the full back positions.
- Up top, forward Jhon Durán is back in the starting lineup at striker for the second-straight match, earning his seventh start of the season so far.
- In the holding midfield spot, Mauricio Pineda also starts for the second-straight outing alongside Federico Navarro.
- With nine clean sheets to his name so far, goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina makes his 23rd start of the season looking to hit double digits in the category.
- Available to Hendrickson as substitutions tonight are goalkeeper Spencer Richey, defender Kendall Burks, defender Andre Reynolds II, midfielder Javier Casas Jr., midfielder Gastón Giménez, midfielder Brian Gutiérrez, forward Victor Bezerra, forward Fabian Herbers, and forward Chinonso Offor.
- Defender Jonathan Bornstein (Health and Safety Protocols), defender Jhon Espinoza (right knee), midfielder Sergio Oregel (international duty), defender Wyatt Omsberg (left foot), and forward Stanislav Ivanov (right thigh) are unavailable for selection tonight.
Get a look at Atlanta's starting lineup below as it becomes available:
