Heating Up: Chicago Fire at Inter Miami Match 25 Preview

For the second match in a row, the Fire face the team with the best record in the league. They managed a victory on Wednesday against FC Cincinnati, giving Inter Miami the opportunity to retake the lead in the Supporter’s Shield race.

If the Fire manage to repeat that feat, this time against a high-octane, star-studded Inter Miami team, and results elsewhere go their way, the team could be in possession of a postseason spot by the Leagues Cup break. It would be a remarkable turnaround for a team that was in last place in the conference a short time ago, and would mark Inter Miami’s second-ever victory over the Fire.

Series History

All time: 4W-1D-1LLast Match: October 4: Fire 4-1 Inter Miami at Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.Last Away Match: March 25, 2023: Fire 3-2 Inter Miami at DRV PNK (now Chase) Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.

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Inter Miami

Inter Miami beat Toronto FC in front of a home crowd at Chase Stadium. It was a welcome turnaround for the team, who in their previous match July 6th were stomped by FC Cincinnati 6-1. That defeat was one of two lopsided losses on the year for Miami, who lost to the New York ed Bulls on March 23rd by a 4-0 scoreline. Still; Miami have just two losses since that game in March, and are 4W-0D-1L in their past five matches.

Fire

The Fire faced a Lucho Acosta-less FC Cincinnati team and walked away with a 1-0 win, costing the Garys the pole position in the Supporters Shield race. The victory was the second clean sheet in a row for Chris Brady, and suddenly, the Fire have conceded just one goal in the team’s past three matches.

The Storyline

The Fire and Inter Miami have history, despite the latter team’s short existence. The two teams did not meet in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Miami’s first in the league, but the Herons finished a single point above the Fire in the standings and made the playoffs in a greatly expanded field that year.

It was later revealed that the team had significantly violated MLS roster rules, fielding five Designated Players, rather than the maximum of three. Ownership was fined, the team’s General Manager was fined and resigned but the results weren’t vacated, and the team willing to ignore the rules made it into the playoffs at the expense of the Fire in the team’s first season with Joe Mansueto as full owner and Georg Heitz as Sporting Director.

It was, to date, the closest the Fire would come to a playoff spot since the 2017 season. Miami’s bounced around the playoff line since – missing them last year – but the team was radically remade, in both form and image, just over a year ago when Lionel Messi announced he was joining Inter Miami.

Although Messi won’t play in Saturday’s contest, his influence will still be felt: The roster, and even coaching staff, were remade to accommodate the global superstar. When Messi arrived, he didn’t come alone, bringing in former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and later, Luis Suárez alongside a number of other moves.

Still, don’t let the aging stars fool you: The roster is deep and full talent, much of it young.

The team isn’t infallible, however, and they’re beatable. It’s a tall order, but if the Fire manage a win in muggy Ft. Lauderdale, they might just be in possession of a postseason spot ahead of the Leagues Cup break. For that to happen, the Fire need a victory combined with results (either draws or wins) from both Philadelphia and Columbus.

Being in a postseason spot is a goal that Fire Head Coach Frank Klopas has talked about, but which seemed improbable just a few short weeks ago, but it’s within reach for the Fire. Can they grasp the opportunity?

Inter Miami Players to Watch

Luis Suárez: One of many players on Miami’s roster who needs no introduction, Suárez joined Inter Miami last season on a TAM deal which limits his pay to a fraction of what he was reportedly earning in Grêmio in Brazil’s Série A so he could reunite with his former teammate Lionel Messi. The Uruguayan international is tied with Messi for the team lead in scoring with 12 goals and has also added five assists so far this campaign, making him an outside contender for the league’s Golden Boot award.

Julian Gressel: Gressel, Fabian Herbers’s former podcasting partner, may be far from the flashiest name on the roster but he’s been a key part of Miami;’s success, whether or not the global superstars are available. He has the most appearances and second most minutes of any outfield player, behind only Sergio Busquets in the later category, and has been a mainstay in the team’s midfield, setting up the attack and being one of the best pass-before-the-pass players in MLS, and has been a key part of why Miami are dangerous on set pieces, even when some of the bigger names aren’t in the lineup.

Fire Keys to Victory

• It’s not all Best XI: The Inter Miami team is a lot more than just the guys that people know from Champions League matches over the past two decades. Their squad is deep and talented. However, it’s still an MLS roster (at least if you squint a bit) and not every player on the squad was going to be under consideration for the All Star game. Miami’s center backs and goalkeeper Drake Callander have had great moments playing behind Messi and co, but there’s a noticeable step down in quality from other parts of the roster. Pressure the back line, get shots on target, and goals will follow.
• Keep it simple: In late July South Florida heat, against an opponent with skilled players, the best strategy is to simplify the game as much as possible. Keep the defense organized, play direct, remember that a good shot you get off is better than a great one you don’t.

Panel Predictions

Alex Calabrese

Prediction: Inter Miami 0-3 Fire

Jiggly Carollo

Prediction: Inter Miami 2-1 Fire

Tim Hotze

Chances of chaos seem higher than normal in this one. Miami could well rotate, the Fire could be hungry and both teams have had some bizarre results.

Prediction: Inter Miami 3-3 Fire

Matt Shabelman

Prediction: Inter Miami 0-3 Fire

Match Information and How to Watch

Date and Time: Saturday, July 20, 2024, 6:30 PM CTLocation: Chase Stadium, Ft Lauderdale, Fl.Forecast: 86’F expected at kickoff, winds at 10 mph, 33% cloud cover and 73% chance of precipitation with thunderstorms possibleTV: Apple TV – MLS Season Pass