New York Red Bulls v Chicago Fire: ´Angry´ Schwarz eager for instant response

Sandro Schwarz has challenged his New York Red Bulls side to hit back from last week’s disappointment when hosting the Chicago Fire.

The Red Bulls saw a four-game unbeaten run in MLS come to an end with a late 2-1 loss at the New England Revolution.

The manner of Carles Gil’s penalty-kick winner, coming in the 97th minute, particularly stung Schwarz as his side slipped to ninth in the East.

NYRB now welcome an in-form Chicago side sitting three points better off at Red Bull Arena on Saturday.

“We were angry about the game last Saturday,” Schwarz told reporters. “Now we have to look to Saturday against Chicago.

“We need to show this [anger] on the field. We need to be aggressive, to be very compact and have the mentality.

“It was one game. Now we have to show our identity, our philosophy, which we have seen in the first five games as well in the season.”

March by the numbers @NJIT pic.twitter.com/bSwUTiKV4T

— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) April 4, 2025

Chicago head into the contest on the back of a disappointing 1-1 home draw with CF Montreal last time out.

That followed successive wins over FC Dallas, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps as part of an ongoing four-game unbeaten run.

Gregg Berhalter does not believe his team took their eye off the ball against lowly Montreal, with a tougher test now to come against NYRB.

“I was worried about complacency heading into the game, but I don’t think that was the issue [against Montreal],” he said.

“It was about embracing that type of game, and we did a poor job of that. But there’s something to be said of playing poorly and taking a point.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

New York Red Bulls – Peter Stroud

Stroud set up Eric Choupo-Moting for the Red Bulls’ goal against the Revs last weekend, with that his second assist in his past three outings.

That compares to just one assist in his first 21 appearances for homegrown talent Stroud, with no other NYRB player boasting as many this term.

Chicago Fire – Philip Zinckernagel

Zinckernagel arrived from Club Brugge in January and has taken little time to settle, registering three goals involvements in five MLS games.

That includes goals in back-to-back games, most recently netting via a first-time shot in the draw with Montreal to keep up his impressive form.

Keeping our focus on what lies ahead. #cf97 pic.twitter.com/UUYFPxj492

— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) April 3, 2025

MATCH PREDICTION – NEW YORK RED BULLS WIN

Chicago are unbeaten in their past five regular-season meetings with the Red Bulls, with that their longest-such streak in this fixture since 2009.

The Fire are going in search of a fourth straight away win for the first time since May 2008, with the fourth of those also coming at the Red Bulls.

While Chicago’s 11 points after six games is their best start since 2009, the Red Bulls have lost only three of their past 26 home games overall.

That includes a return of three wins from four MLS matches at Red Bull Arena stretching back into the 2024 campaign.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

New York Red Bulls – 60.1%
Chicago Fire – 19%
Draw – 20.9%