Chicago Fire FC (2-1-3, 6th in East) vs. LA Galaxy (4-2-0, 2nd in West)
Chicago Fire FC vs LA Galaxy has for years been billed by the marquee players playing for each club at the time. It started with Jorge Campos vs. Carlos Hermosillo, then Hristo Stoitchkov vs. Luis Hernandez, Cuauhtemoc Blanco vs. David Beckham, and Bastian Schweinsteiger vs. Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Now, it’s Xherdan Shaqiri vs. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez. At least it is hoped that’s the case as Shaqiri is “day-to-day” with his calf strain first suffered two weeks ago vs. FC Dallas.
Chicharito, meanwhile, is joint-top of Major League Soccer with five goals in six matches and looks in top form at the moment. The result is that LA Galaxy–fresh off their 3-2 win over LAFC–are second in the Western Conference
It’s been three years since the two sides met, and it’s been 12 years since the Fire defeated LA Galaxy (seven losses, four draws). The Fire would love nothing more to end that winless streak against Galaxy as a sign of progress moving forward after over a decade in the doldrums.
They are seemingly getting healthier outside of Shaqiri and Fabian Herbers with Rafael Czichos emerging from health and safety protocols. However, Brian Gutierrez will miss the match due to a red card suspension.
It will be defense most likely that will be key for the Fire who have allowed just two goals in six matches, but have scored just five themselves (and just in two matches). They need Shaqiri to be healthy and get the ball to Kacper Przybylko so he can do his magic in attack. It has happened just twice for Przybylko so far this season and both goals were against Sporting Kansas City.
Whatever way you look at this match, this will be a massive test for Chicago Fire FC looking for a signature win to confirm they are a team moving forward.
Kickoff for the match is at 7pm CT on WGN-TV.
INJURIES:
CHICAGO FIRE FC: QUESTIONABLE: Fabian Herbers (right hip), Xherdan Shaqiri (left calf)
LA GALAXY: OUT: Adam Saldaña (left ankle), Jorge Villafaña (left knee)
SUSPENSIONS:
CHI: Brian Gutierrez (red card, one match)
Referee: Ted Unkel
Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson, Ryan Graves
Fourth Official: Lukasz Szpala
VAR: Alejandro Mariscal
LAST TIME:
3/2/19: LA 2-1 CHI
