Seven games into the Major League Soccer season, and the tables are beginning to take shape. In the Eastern Conference, CF Montreal are hanging on to the final playoff spot at the moment. Chicago Fire, meanwhile, are languishing second from the bottom. The two teams face each other in the latest round of matches.
The 2021 Major League Soccer season is underway, with even more teams joining the line-up. The ever-expanding league currently has 27 clubs playing in it, divided into two sections – Eastern Conference and Western Conference. Fourteen of the 27 teams currently participating will qualify for the finals series, where one will be crowned as the league champions by way of the knockouts.
Both Chicago Fire and CF Montreal are in the Eastern Conference, and both are struggling. Chicago Fire’s decision to stick with head coach Raphael Wicky doesn’t seem to be paying off, with the team currently second bottom in the east. The Fire has won just one match so far this season – a 1-0 victory over Phil Neville’s Inter Miami in their latest match. They have faced problems in front of goal, evidenced by the fact that they have only found the net on four occasions in two months.
Furthermore, things could get worse for Chicago. They have played six matches so far this season and are on four points. FC Cincinnati – who are currently occupying the last spot in the east – are on four points as well, albeit with a game in hand. Should Cincinnati win their game in hand, they will leapfrog Chicago in the table, leaving the Fire dead last.
CF Montreal have had a marginally better season than Chicago, although they are only four points clear of the latter despite playing a game more. However, Montreal have only won two of their seven games so far this season and are hanging on to the final playoffs spot by the skin of their teeth. Columbus Crew and Inter Miami are on the same number of points as Montreal, as such, a defeat against Chicago would make their position vulnerable.
Key Players
Towards the end of 2014, Alvaro Medran made his UEFA Champions League debut for Real Madrid, and scored the last goal in his team’s 4-0 rout of Ludogorets. Fast forward to 2021, and the Spaniard is playing in the MLS for Chicago Fire and is one of their key players. Medran signed for the Fire in 2020 from Valencia, with whom he had spent one season before leaving on loan. Medran made 23 appearances for Chicago last season and scored two goals. He is yet to open his account this season.
Slovenian forward Robert Beric made his name in France while playing for Saint Etienne. Beric was a key player for the Ligue 1 side for five years – scoring 34 times in over 100 appearances. In 2020, Chicago Fire picked Beric up from France and made him one of their designated players. The Slovenian scored 12 times in his first season and has already opened his account for the current campaign.
Chicago Fire trade 22-year-old Djordje Mihailovic to CF Montreal ahead of the 2021 regular season in exchange for general allocation money spread over two years. Mihailovic – a full USA international by this point – had scored seven goals for the Fire over four years. The attacking midfielder is already a third of the way towards matching his career tally with Montreal. He has scored twice so far in the MLS and has also provided one assist.
CF Montreal currently have only one designated player in their squad – Victor Wanyama. The Kenyan spent seven years in England playing for Mauricio Pochettino, first at Southampton and later Tottenham. The defensive midfielder moved across the Atlantic in 2020 to join the club then known as Impact Montreal. Montreal have since changed their manager and reworked their brand, but Wanyama remains an important member of the first team. He is also the current captain of the team and has scored once this season.
Prediction
Neither Chicago Fire nor CF Montreal are in great form. Therefore, a win for either side is difficult to predict. Both teams are separated by just four points on the table, which could be cut down to one should the Fire beat Montreal in their next match.
While both teams have faced difficulties in front of goal this season, Montreal are faring marginally better in that department. Former Chicago Fire player Djordje Mihailovic is their joint-top scorer with two goals this season, along with Mason Toye and Bjorn Johnsen. Given that there is nothing much to separate the two sides, their upcoming match could be a closely fought encounter, decided by fine margins. Montreal are better placed to secure maximum points from this one.
