Preview: Chicago Fire vs Inter Miami

It's Inter Miami week again in Chicago and the Fire have a massive test on Saturday when the side that plays in Fort Lauderdale comes to Soldier Field.

It remains to be seen whether or not Lionel Messi will play, though more information will be available later in the day on Friday. Regardless, Inter Miami comes in as one of the best sides in Major League Soccer and they will make nothing easy for Chicago on the lakefront.

These two sides faced off in July with Miami keeping all three points following a match-winning goal from Jordi Alba moments after Rafael Czichos tied the match at one in the 73rd minute. This time around the Fire have a healthy Andrew Gutman, Carlos Terán, and Federico Navarro while Ariel Lassiter is expected to make his club debut after being acquired by trade from Montréa l earlier this month.

Brian Gutiérrez enters the match on the precipice of club history . After scoring the match-tying goal last weekend in Queens , Guti’s next goal will be his 11th as a professional and that would be the most by a Fire Homegrown player. Frank Klopas has previously mentioned that he wants 8-10 goals from Gutiérrez in 2024 and should he accomplish that, it will be yet another accolade in the 21-year-old’s young career.

A key to the match? Score first. The Fire are 4-1-2 overall against Miami all-time and the only matches the Fire didn’t leave with all three points came when they didn’t have the 1-0 lead at some point. That held true when Miami scored less than six minutes after kickoff in the reverse fixture.

How to Watch Chicago Fire vs. Inter Miami

Who: Chicago Fire vs. Inter Miami

Where: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

When: August 31, 2024 at 7:30 PM CT

How to Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+

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