Chicago City Wire

Chicago Fire FC is set to face Columbus Crew at Soldier Field on Saturday, September 27, in an important Eastern Conference match. The game coincides with Hispanic Heritage Night, which is presented by Meridian.

This meeting marks the 79th regular season matchup between the two teams. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. Fans can watch the match globally via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV or listen locally through wlsam.com in English and Que Buena Fire via the Uforia App in Spanish. A replay will be available on Marquee Sports Network on Monday, September 29 at 8 p.m. CT.

After securing their eighth road win of the season against Minnesota United FC last week, Chicago’s Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has announced his starting lineup for this fixture. There is one change from the team that defeated Minnesota 3-0; Leonardo Barroso returns to the starting eleven for the first time since August 23 and will play as right wingback. If Barroso plays at least six minutes, he will reach 1,000 minutes played this season.

Andrew Gutman will start as left wingback, making his 31st appearance of the year—a personal best for him after previously playing a maximum of 30 games in a single season split between Atlanta United FC and Colorado Rapids in 2023.

Defender Joel Waterman continues his run in the lineup after scoring his first goal with Chicago and being named to MLS Team of the Matchday. He joins Sam Rogers and Jack Elliott—who serves as captain—in defense.

Goalkeeper Chris Brady aims for his career-high eleventh win of the year in what will be his 25th appearance this season. He also seeks consecutive clean sheets for the first time since July.

In midfield, André Franco and Dja D’Avilla are paired together for a fourth straight match following their combined effort leading to D’Avilla’s first professional goal against Minnesota.

Philip Zinckernagel looks to extend his streak with a goal to four matches and could tie a club record with his twenty-eighth goal contribution this season against Columbus Crew. Jonathan Bamba starts on the left wing after recording two assists during his MLS debut earlier this year when Chicago faced Columbus on February 22.

Forward Hugo Cuypers completes the starting lineup as he pursues his seventeenth goal of this campaign and twenty-seventh overall with Chicago Fire FC.

Unavailable players include defender Viktor Radojević due to a lower body injury and midfielder Chris Mueller (not injury-related). Substitutes available are goalkeeper Jeff Gal; defender Jonathan Dean; midfielders Rominigue Kouamé, Maren Haile-Selassie, Brian Gutiérrez, Kellyn Acosta, Mauricio Pineda, Sergio Oregel Jr.; and forward Tom Barlow.

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