At 8:30 PM on Saturday, August 31st, the first-place Inter Miami CF (17-4-5) will travel to Soldier Field in Chicago, IL, to take on the 13th place Chicago Fire (6-12-8). This match has an over/under goal line of 3.5 goals, and Miami is on a three-game winning streak. The money line odds for an Inter Miami win are sitting at +128 compared to +175 for a Chicago victory. The payout for a draw is currently at +280.
Inter Miami CF vs. Chicago Fire Matchup At A Glance
- Teams: Inter Miami CF at Chicago Fire
- Where: Chicago, IL at Soldier Field
- Date: Saturday, August 31st
- Betting Odds MIA +128 | CHI +175 O/U 3.5
Inter Miami CF Preview
Inter Miami CF is off to a strong start in their inaugural season, as they sit atop the Eastern Conference with a record of 17-4-5. They have won three straight matches and have gone 5-1 over their last six. Overall, they have been strong both at home (9-2-3) and on the road (8-2-2). They have been favored in 17 of their matches, going 11-2-4 in those contests. Following this match against the Chicago Fire, they will return home to take on the Philadelphia Union on September 14th. In the standings, they hold a four-point lead over the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Inter Miami CF has been the most potent offense in MLS this season, averaging 2.2 goals per match. They are also fifth in the league in passing percentage, completing 85.7% of their passes. Luis Suárez is the top scorer for Inter Miami CF and fourth in MLS, with 14 goals. He also leads the team in shots on goal, which is fifth in the league. Lionel Messi is the leader in assists for Inter Miami CF and fourth in MLS, with 10. He is also 12th in MLS in goals scored.
Inter Miami's defense has been up and down this season, but they are coming off a shutout performance against FC Cincinnati, who is 10th in scoring. Overall, they are 14th in goals allowed, and they are 28th in blocked shots. Keeper Drake Callender is 11th in clean sheets, and he is 8th in saves. He has five clean sheets this season. They are facing a Chicago Fire offense that is 22nd in scoring. Earlier this season, they gave up six goals to FC Cincinnati, who is 10th in scoring.
Chicago Fire Preview
The Chicago Fire will be looking to improve their record as they take on Inter Miami CF. So far this season, the Fire have a record of 6-12-8, which has them in 13th place in the Eastern Conference. At home, they have gone 4-5-3. Over their last three matches, they have gone 1-1-1. Following this match, they will be back at home to take on D.C. United SC.
Chicago Fire's offense has been led by Hugo Cuypers, who is 20th in MLS with 10 goals scored this season. Cuypers is also 12th in the league in shots on goal. Ariel Lassiter is the team's leader in assists and is 36th in MLS in that category. He has also scored three goals this season. As a team, the Fire are 22nd in the league in passing percentage and 20th in shots on goal per match. They have had fewer corners than their opponents in 53.8% of their matches this season.
When it comes to goals allowed, the Chicago Fire has struggled this season, as they are currently 20th in MLS, allowing 1.7 goals per match. Over their last seven matches, they have given up an average of 1.4 goals per match. However, they have had some success against top-10 scoring offenses, as they shut out FC Cincinnati and held the San Jose Earthquakes to just one goal. Christopher Brady is the team's top goalkeeper, and he is 21st in MLS with four clean sheets.
Inter Miami CF vs. Chicago Fire Head To Head
In the only matchup between these two teams this season, Inter Miami came out on top by a score of 2-1. Inter Miami had nine shots on goal compared to five for Chicago.
Inter Miami CF vs Chicago Fire Free Pick
With Luis Suarez leading the way, we have Inter Miami CF pulling out a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire. Suarez is our top projected goal scorer for the match. Coming into the game, Inter Miami has been one of the top offensive teams in the MLS this season, both in terms of goals scored and shots on goal. Look for them to take advantage of a Chicago Fire defense that is 20th in goals allowed and 25th in blocked shots.
- KnupSports.com Free Betting Pick: Chicago Fire +175
