Philadelphia Union v Chicago Fire
Saturday 20th July 0030hrs
Football – USA – MLS
Pick Over 2.5 goals
BookmakerSportingbet
Odds: 6/11 (odds taken 10.00 GMT, Saturday 20th July)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/10 | 29/10 | 51/20 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on July 20th, 2019 at 10.00)
Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union will be looking to continue setting the pace in first spot when facing a Chicago Fire who need points to keep themselves in the hunt for the playoffs.
Philadelphia Union Preview – Can Phila take three points and remain top of Eastern Conference?
It’s been a really positive season for Jim Curtin’s Philadelphia Union team as they have set the pace at the top of their Conference from the off. Curtin has been in charge of Union for over five years now and this has the potential to be the best yet. The franchise have reached the MLS Playoffs in two of the years Curtin has been in charge, but they have never been this well placed at this stage. Philadelphia have a one point lead over DC United at the top of the table after 22 games. It’s a stacked top seven, though, and their recent form have brought them back to the pack. One win in their last five league games is their worst run of the campaign so far and one they will be looking to improve.
The 4-0 defeat away to Real Salt Lake was also their biggest defeat of the season and they have to bounce back from that. Curtin will know all too well that it’s about how you finish seasons as opposed to how you start them. This is the first real rocky part of Union’s seasons and they have to show they are able to grind it out. A win against Chicago would ensure they stay top and restore some confidence.
Chicago Fire Preview – Can Fire regain some form and close on the teams in the playoff zone?
Veljko Paunovic is in his fifth season in charge of Chicago Fire and unfortunately it’s been a struggle more often than not. Fire have finished bottom placed in two of those five years and reached the playoffs on just one occasion. That came back in 2017 and the hope was they would continue that improvement. It’s been a regression, however, and this season looks like being of a similar note. Chicago find themselves in 10th spot and just six points off the bottom. With relegation not an issue it’s more for indication of how much of a struggle it’s been. The optimistic Fire supporters will point to the fact they are the same number of points off the playoffs. And that’s where Paunovic will be aiming.
Like their opponents this weekend, Chicago come into the game on a poor run of form. One win in 11 games does not make for pretty reading. Their solitary victory was a memorable one, however, defeating reigning champions Atlanta United 5-1. That will be the frustration for all concerned with Chicago, their inability to find consistency. Can they repeat something like that and get a result against the Conference leaders?!
Key-Facts – Philadelphia Union v Chicago Fire
- Philadelphia have set the pace at the top of the Eastern Conference for a while but have hit a rocky patch
- It’s been another struggle for Chicago this season and they come into this with just one win in their last 11 games
- This is a fixture that tends to bring goals with seven of the last eight meetings all containing at least three
Philadelphia Union v Chicago Fire Betting Advice
Both teams would like to be coming into this fixture in much better form than they currently are. Philadelphia may still be top but they have struggle of late and will be targeting this game to respond and ensure they continue in first spot. For Chicago it’s been a pretty underwhelming season all in with a few positives along the way. The win over Atlanta showed they can compete with the best but need to do it more often.
Games between these clubs are usually very entertaining and that’s illustrated by the fact the last eight meetings have accumulated 33 goals. That’s a strong trend in the fixture and it’s backed up with the performance of both teams so far this season. Games involving Philadelphia and Chicago both average over three goals and it makes over 2.5 goals a strong selection. No teams has scored more home goals than Philadelphia this term and they also are the highest scorers in the Conference.
