Seattle Sounders FC vs. Chicago Fire FC | 2020 MLS Match Preview

SEA-CHI-2020-03-01

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 1
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Chicago Fire FC
CenturyLink Field – Seattle
March 1 â€“ 3:00 PM ET


TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes


STREAMING: MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada


CenturyLink Field will be rocking Sunday when the defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders open the 2020 campaign against the rebranded Chicago Fire FC.


If it ain't broke, why fix it? The Sounders look very much like the same team that captured MLS Cup a year ago, with the main notable additions being Brazilian midfielder Joao Paulo and Colombian center back Yeimar Gomez Andrade. But the historically slow starters have the added pressure of playing on two fronts with Brian Schmetzer's squad considered by many the league's favorite to contend in Concacaf Champions League. Like the other four CCL squads, how the Sounders deal with roster rotation will be interesting.


Everything is new again in the Windy City with a new owner (Joe Mansueto), new sporting director (George Heitz), new technical director (Sebastian Pelzer), new coach in Raphael Wicky, a new home venue (Soldier Field) and a new logo. What will all these mean to the product on the field? Among the intriguing newcomers are Alvaro Medran, Robert Beric, Ignacio Aliseda and Luka Stojanovic.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Chicago Fire FC | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Seattle

Seattle vs. Chicago

Sunday, March 1 at 3:00 PM ET
CenturyLink Field

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Chicago Fire FC | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Chicago
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Chicago Fire FC | 2020 MLS Match Preview - https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/styles/thumbnail/s3/images/338x65-SG.png
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Chicago Fire FC | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Project Starting XI
  • Injury Report:
    • OUT: Nicolas Lodeiro (M) - tendinitis 
    • OUT: Gustav Svensson (M) - calf strain
    • OUT: Will Bruin (F) - ACL
  • Suspended: None
  • Suspended after next caution:  None
  • International duty:  None
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Chicago Fire FC | 2020 MLS Match Preview - Project Starting XI
  • Injury Report:
    • OUT: None
  • Suspended: None
  • Suspended after next caution:  None
  • International duty:  None


Series Matchup at Sounders


  • Sounders: 4 wins, 8 goals
  • Fire: 0 wins, 4 goals
  • 2 draws


Officials


  • Referee: Alex Chilowicz
  • Assistant Referees: Jeremy Kieso, Cory Richardson
  • 4th Official: Ismir Pekmic
  • VAR: Victor Rivas