Inter Miami vs Chicago Fire FC Match Preview, Odds, and Predictions

Inter Miami can keep their slim lead atop the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer with a win over the Chicago Fire on Saturday at Chase Stadium.

Miami is again leading the Supporters' Shield after Wednesday's 3-1 win over Toronto, and Saturday's 1-0 win over FC Cincinnati put the Fire two points below the Eastern Conference playoff line.

Head-to-Head and Previous Matches

Midweek, Miami learned that anything can happen in this league. After falling to second place 11 days before their 6-1 defeat to Cincinnati, they regained top overall standing.

The international tournaments and a slew of injuries this summer forced Miami coach Tata Martino to rotate his squads more than once. However, he has been entirely accurate in his choices.

With 50 points for the season, the Herons have surpassed their most outstanding record in a single MLS regular season from 2022 (48), thanks to six wins in their last seven league games.

Miami leads the Eastern Conference with seven victories from twelve home games played in the United States. They improved their home record from last season by one win at Chase Stadium.

Up until matchday 17, Inter Miami dominated MLS comebacks, accumulating 20 points after giving up the first goal. However, they have since gone winless in three of their last four league games while down 1-0.

With 54 goals scored this season, Miami is the only team in the league to do so. They have scored in 22 of their 24 matches in the competition and never lost a game at Chase Stadium in 2024.

On Wednesday, the Fire did Miami a favour by ending a two-game losing streak and re-entering the Eastern Conference playoff hunt.

Frank Klopas's squad is currently in thirteenth place in the Eastern Conference. Still, with a win this weekend—and some help—they have a shot of overtaking Atlanta United, DC United, Nashville SC, CF Montreal, and Toronto—all within striking distance of advancing to the postseason.

With their matchday 24 victory, they achieved consecutive MLS clean sheets for the first time this season and snapped a two-game goalless streak in this league.

They failed to score in three of their eight regular-season games in 2024 and finished the year with 29 goals, good for third-worst in the East.

Chicago has won only two away MLS games in 2024, but they can win back-to-back home games as visitors this weekend, which would be a first for the team this season.

Their record against the Herons is stellar; they're 3-0 in their previous three matches against the Herons and have only lost one in six encounters all-time, 3-2 in 2021 at Fort Lauderdale.

Inter Miami x Chicago Team News

On Wednesday, Miami was without a trio of key players due to injury: Nicolas Freire (ACL), Facundo Farias (ACL), and Lionel Messi (ankle)—who was with Argentina at the Copa America.

Benjamin Cremaschi has joined the U.S. team in preparation for the Paris Olympics, while Sergio Busquets and Marcelo Weigandt are also eligible to return from suspension on Saturday.

Two minutes before halftime, Diego Gomez scored against Toronto, and Federico Redondo scored again early in the second half, his first two goals of the season.

On Wednesday, the Fire were without Wyatt Omsberg due to a minor knock, Carlos Teran and Federico Navarro due to leg difficulties, and Andrew Gutman and Chase Gasper due to hamstring injuries.

While Fabian Herbers became the first German player to reach 100 starts for this club midweek, Xherdan Shaqiri still needs to report back to the squad after representing Switzerland at the Euros earlier this summer.

Brian Gutierrez scored their sixth goal of the MLS season in the 69th minute, putting them up 3-0 over the Orange and Blue.

Our predictions

Inter Miami to win @ 1.62 on Sky247.ng

While some may predict a tighter game, Miami has won seven of its eight games this season by a single goal, so they are very at home in games like this.

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