Seattle Sounders vs Chicago Fire Predictions

• Seattle Sounders finished in 4th place overall but won the MLS Cup, beating Toronto in the final.
• Chicago Fire finished in 17th place in the table, missing out on the playoffs by three points.
• Seattle scored a total of 52 goals last season but conceded 49 times as they struggled defensively.
• Chicago were able to find the net 55 times and conceded 47 times, averaging 3 goals a game across the season.

The defence of the MLS Cup begins this weekend

Seattle Sounders enjoyed a superb season, finishing second in the Western Conference and adding another MLS Cup to their trophy cabinet. The final win over Toronto was the third time the two clubs have met at that stage in four years and proved that Seattle were one of the true elite sides in MLS history, something that would’ve given everyone connected to the club a massive boost.

There hasn’t been a lot of movement on the transfer front from Seattle with Brian Schmetzer opting to let a lot of fringe players leave, bringing in Joao Paulo and Yeimar Andrade to try and improve in midfield and defence. The rest of the squad remains primarily the same as the one that won the MLS Cup with much of the side’s success falling on the shoulders of Nico Lodeiro and Raul Ruidiaz.

The side did well in front of goal last season, scoring 52 times at a rate of 1.52 goals per game but they were poor defensively, conceding 49 times, 12 more than LAFC who won the Western Conference. There will need to be an improvement in their own half if the side wish to retain their MLS Cup and enjoy further success this season.

A new season marks new opportunities for Chicago

Chicago Fire have had an entire rebrand in the off season with a new owner,  new club badge, new colours and a new head coach. Failing to qualify for the playoffs wasn’t enough for Veljko Paunovic to keep his job and Raphael Wicky was the man chosen to lead Chicago Fire as they look to make a mark on the 2020 season.

Wicky wasted no time in making his mark on the squad with no less than nine players joining the club whilst 12 players departed. Bastian Schweinsteiger was the biggest name of those with the German retiring and he has been replaced with the DP signings of Gaston Gimenez and Ignacio Aliseda, both of whom will look to enjoy a successful first season at the club.

Last season, Chicago Fire actually enjoyed a better record both offensively and defensively than their opponents, and reigning MLS Cup holders, Seattle Sounders. They scored 55 goals, three more than The Sounders, and conceded 47, two less than their opposition this weekend. It was a good base for the side but the wholesale changes to the club mean that things start at zero for them once again.

Seattle look to defend their title whilst Chicago hope for progression

Seattle Sounders will come into this game knowing that they need to make a quick start to the season if they are going to replicate their successes of last season as the Western Conference looks increasingly competitive. Chicago Fire are relative unknowns with so many changes and whilst that could be a positive, the side will have to gel relatively quickly to enjoy success.

Champions League football is also a factor with Seattle Sounders travelling to Honduras on Thursday night for the vital second leg of their continental campaign. That could be a huge factor in how their match with Chicago plays out and we can see the match suffering as a result. With both sides having their own, very different, issues we’re backing this game to see under 2.5 goals.

There is a big chance that Seattle will be tired following their match, and long journey, on Thursday and they could employ some rotation as a result. Chicago will need further time to come together as a cohesive unit and, as a result, we’re predicting this game finishes 0-0.