Match Preview: Nashville SC vs Chicago Fire FC
After a disappointing blowout loss to Seattle on the road a week ago, Nashville SC returns to the friendly confines of GEODIS Park on Saturday evening as they welcome Chicago Fire FC in a matchup of former US Men’s National Team head coaches.
Let’s dive in.
Match Details
Date: Saturday, April 26th, 2025
Time: 7:30PM CST (local)
Location: GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees: Rosendo Mendoza (REF), Walt Heatherly (AR1), Diego Blas (AR2), Nabil Bensalah (4TH), Michael Radchuk (VAR), Tom Felice (AVAR)
Head Coaches: B.J. Callaghan (NSH), Gregg Berhalter (CHI)
Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+
Commentators: Tony Husband & Ross Smith (English), Alejandro
Figueredo & Tony Cherchi (Spanish)
Listen: WGFX 104.5 The Zone
The History
Nashville SC and Chicago Fire FC have played seven times heading into Saturday night, with Nashville holding an impressive four wins, two draws, one loss record in the fixture.
Last season, Nashville did the double over the Fire, winning 1-0 at GEODIS Park on September 18th, and 3-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago on Decision Day, October 19th.
You’ll note, both of those games came after the appointment of B.J. Callaghan as Nashville manager. Chicago appointed Gregg Berhalter as manager and Director of Football on October 8th, though he did not take to the touchline until the opening of the 2025 season.
In games played in Nashville, the Boys in Gold hold an even more impressive record over the Fire, having picked up three wins and one draw with no losses in that span, having scored ten goals and allowed just two in those games.
Hany Mukhtar also typically enjoys this fixture when it comes up, having scored hat tricks against the Fire in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
Injury Report
Nashville SC
OUT- Walker Zimmerman, Tyler Boyd, Julian Gaines, Maximus Ekk
QUESTIONABLE- None
Chicago Fire FC
OUT- Leonardo Barroso, Chase Gasper, Rominigue Kouamé, Carlos Téran, Chris Mueller, David Poreba
QUESTIONABLE- None
Lineup Prediction
Just one change is made from the side that lost to Seattle, and it’s Eddi Tagseth reclaiming his place in midfield alongside Gastón Brugman.
The two of them, as is almost customary at this point, sit behind a front four of Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar, Alex Muyl, and Ahmed Qasem. The back four remains unchanged from the last two games, with Jeisson Palacios continuing to bridge the gap caused by Walker Zimmerman’s injury in the center of defense.
Joining Palacios at the back and in front of Joe Willis in goal are Dan Lovitz, Andy Najar and Jack Maher.
The only place where there’s real question is the midfield. We’ve seen three distinct pairings now, and with Bryan Acosta seemingly close to if not already back to full fitness, things could continue to change, potentially even into a three-man midfield configuration, likely sacrificing one of the forwards.
Patrick Yazbek could easily sit in either midfield slot in this one, but for this one I think he makes way for Tagseth. Perhaps it’s Brugman’s turn to get a rest, now that Tagseth has gotten his against Seattle, but who knows.
Analysis and Prediction
Student versus master. B.J. Callaghan was Gregg Berhalter’s assistant for a full World Cup cycle, and then interim manager, and then assistant again, before both re-entered Major League Soccer in the back half of 2024.
Both managers have made good early progress with their respective clubs. Nashville are unrecognizable to their former selves, and Chicago is starting to take on a new identity as well.
Thus far this season, Chicago has scored 16 goals and allowed 15 on the other end. The Fire are thus tied for the most goals scored in the Eastern Conference, while conceding the third most as well.
Nashville has 12 goals scored and 11 conceded. Their chance creation numbers suggest they should have more goals than they do, but, shoulda, woulda, coulda.
Chances are going to flow in this game, so you’d expect me to predict a high scoring wild affair right?
Nope. That storyline feels a bit too perfect. Give me 1-0 to Nashville, with the goal coming from Alex Muyl. No real reason why I feel that way, just exists in my gut that this is a low-scoring game.