Los Angeles FC vs Chicago Fire Predictions

The two Los Angeles clubs occupy the top two positions in the Western Conference as things stand, but LAFC’s lead is just one point and they have played an extra game more than their local rivals. Sunday’s hosts can’t afford to drop any points if they wish to stay on top of the pile this weekend, and they will fancy their chances of picking up three points against an inconsistent Chicago Fire side that are yet to win on the road this season.

Seattle Sounders established a first minute lead at home to LAFC last time out, but the visitor’s top scorer Vela equalised minutes later. The match swung in LAFC’s favour in the eighteenth minute when Seattle had Roldan sent-off, but the teams went in level at the break. LAFC pressed and pressed but couldn’t carve out the winning goal, even after Seattle Sounders were reduced to nine-men in stoppage time. Chicago Fire’s trip to Montreal Impact last weekend wont live long in the memory as both sides struggled to create meaningful chances. The game probably should have ended goalless on the balance of play, but a late strike from Browne handed Montreal Impact all three points.

The head to head record between these two clubs is so limited it isn’t really worth mentioning, but both teams form, consistency, and overall performances this season suggest that LAFC will win on Sunday and keep a clean sheet. LAFC have won four of their last six matches, while Chicago Fire have lost both of their last two games, and each was away from home. LAFC have kept three clean sheets in their last six matches, and Chicago Fire are yet to win away from home this season, losing three times and drawing once. The hosts have played one more game than Chicago Fire this season, but have fourteen more points on the board, and we expect that gap to increase on Sunday as LAFC claim a comfortable 2-0 victory.

Carlos Vela has been in fantastic form in the early stages of the new season, scoring eleven times in the MLS alone of LAFC. Sapong has netted four times and teammate Nikolić has chipped in with three goals so far for Chicago Fire, but the visitors have struggled to create chances away from home. We’re confident that LAFC will win to nil on Sunday, and have predicted a final scoreline of 2-0. The hosts have been the better side by far this season, and Chicago Fire’s struggles on the road don’t exactly fill us with confidence in their ability to pull off a decent result this weekend.