Colorado Rapids vs Chicago Fire Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Bottom of the Western Conference Colorado are having an abysmal season. Thursday’s hosts are deservedly propping up their division having lost each of their last eight matches. Scoring goals has been a bit of an issue for Anthony Hudson’s men, though keeping them out at the other end has been the biggest problem for the side who’re currently looking up at everyone else.

Unlike their hosts, who’re floundering at present, the visitors come into this fixture having performed well of late. They’re not as high up the table as they’d ideally like, though Veljko Paunović’s side are just a point outside of the play-off places. Moreover, the visiting team come into this fixture having lost just one of their last four.

Given their record of late, it would be easy to dismiss the hosts without too much thought, though there has been signs of life at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park of late. Defensively, things continue to go wrong for the very open Colorado Rapids, though they’ve at least competed offensively when playing at home this season. Anthony Hudson’s side have scored at least once in each of their seven home matches, notching a more than respectable total of 12 goals.

It is the defensive third that continues to cause Colorado pain. Teams are finding it very, very easy to breach Thursday’s hosts. Colorado have kept just one clean sheet at home this season, while they’ve conceded 11 goals in seven matches in front of their own fans. They’ll continue to get forward and should score against a Chicago team who haven’t been anything special defensively on their travels, though keeping things tight at the back could once again prove to be beyond them.

The visitors have been patchy at best on the road this season, but they have scored in four of their last five away from home, so they ought to fancy their chances against a home team who simply cannot keep a clean sheet at present. Last time out, Paunovic’s side deservedly scored against Philadelphia, though they looked none too clever defensively, while much of the same can be said about their recent 2-1 win away at Orlando. A repeat of either of those performances would likely see Thursday’s away team find the net, though they’ll struggle to avoid conceding if they don’t sharpen up.

Given the general lack of defensive strength that this pair share, it’s no surprise that high-scoring matches have been commonplace for both. ‘Over 2.5 Goals’ has landed in 69% of Colorado’s MLS fixtures this season, while at least three goals have featured in 79% of Chicago Fire’s matches.

In all honesty, this is a match where both teams will fancy themselves to make headway; both are expected to have a good go at each other, so a high-scoring game seems more than likely, perhaps even more likely than the current prices suggest. Backing ‘Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score’ makes plenty of sense.