Round five of the 2024 Major League Soccer season sees New England Revolution and Chicago Fire face off at the Gillette Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts are still winless in the league this term, while their visitors go in search of consecutive victories having notched up a first win last time out.
Match preview
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New England Revolution were on the receiving end of a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of FC Cincinnati when the teams went head-to-head on Sunday evening.
Caleb Porter's men conceded quickfire strikes from Yuya Kubo and Luciano Acosta two minutes apart before pulling one back through Giacomo Vrioni.
As a result, the Revs remain rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference of the MLS table and are already four points adrift in the race for playoff contention.
Next up is the challenge of an opposing outfit with little to choose between the sides over the last five meetings which have all ended in stalemates.
Having not won a league game on home turf since October, Saturday's hosts will be keen to kickstart their season with a much-needed victory.
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Chicago Fire showed great resolve to come out on top from a thrilling contest against CF Montreal which ended 4-3 at the Soldier Field on Saturday.
Two goals from Matias Coccaro and a Dominik Yankov strike saw Frank Klopas's men trail 3-1 heading into the final 20 minutes, where Brian Gutierrez, Hugo Cuypers and Kellyn Acosta all netted to complete a remarkable turnaround.
With four points picked up from as many matches so far, the Men in Red sit 10th in the standings, just one point outside the play-in places.
Unbeaten in all but one of their last five matches on the road, Saturday's visitors have been a force to reckon with on the road of late.
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Team News
New England's Dylan Borrero is still battling with a knee injury and the 22-year-old is joined on the treatment table by Brandon Bye.
The home side will also be without the services of Henrich Ravas and Esmir Bajraktarevic due to international commitments with Slovakia and the United States respectively.
Since returning from suspension, Giacomo Vrioni has found the back of the net in two of his three matches, making him one to keep an eye on.
Andrew Gutman is set to sit out a fourth straight game through a muscle problem, while Federico Navarro remains a major doubt through injury.
Victor Bezerra misses out once again for the visitors this weekend, although the 24-year-old is drawing increasingly closer to a return to action.
Xherdan Shaqiri is currently on international duty with Switzerland, leaving the door open for Georgios Koutsias to make a first start since mid-February.
New England Revolution possible starting lineup:
Edwards; Lima, Kessler, Romney, Jones; Harkes, Kaye; Chancalay, C.Gil, N.Gil; Vrioni
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Arigoni, Salquist, Czichos, Gasper; Acosta, Herbers; Haile-Selassie, Koutsias, Gutierrez; Cuypers
We say: New England Revolution 2-1 Chicago Fire
New England have made a poor start to the campaign and simply cannot afford another fruitless outing this weekend. We are backing the home side to carry the day come the sound of the final whistle.
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