Charlotte FC return to their Bank of America fortress on Saturday evening looking to halt a two-game losing streak when they host Chicago Fire in MLS action.
Despite recent road struggles, Dean Smith's men have been dominant at home this season, winning five of six matches while conceding just once in their last four on home soil.
Chicago enters with momentum after recent victories, but their road form remains a concern with the Fire conceding 2.67 goals per away game in their last six matches.
Charlotte vs. Chicago Fire prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Charlotte vs Chicago Fire matchup, our predictive model gives the Charlotte a 65.5% chance of defeating the Fire.
Charlotte: 65.5% win probability
- Recent momentum (won their last match after a tough stretch, showing resilience)
- Solid home advantage (6 wins puts them 7th in the standings despite recent struggles)
- Efficient attack (20 goals scored in 13 matches, more efficient than Chicago's defense)
Chicago Fire: 34.5% win probability
- Poor defensive record (23 goals conceded in just 12 games, nearly 2 per match)
- Inconsistent recent form (WDLLD shows inability to string together wins)
- Road struggles (currently 11th in the standings with 16 points despite playing one fewer game than Charlotte)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top MLS experts to give you a clear edge. Rather than digging through countless opinions, you can rely on our predictions to reflect the broader market sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing expert picks, team data, and betting trends—then our AI assigns a confidence score to each prediction. These scores are averaged to create an 'expert opinion' win probability, offering a data-driven snapshot of what the smartest minds in MLS are thinking.
Charlotte vs. Chicago Fire odds
Here are the current odds as Charlotte hosts Chicago Fire in an MLS showdown on Saturday, May 17.
| Charlotte | Chicago Fire | Draw | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | +100 (via FanDuel Sportsbook) | +240 (via Caesars Sportsbook) | 275 ( via bet365 US) |
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Charlotte vs. Chicago Fire preview
Charlotte FC return to Bank of America Stadium looking to rediscover their winning touch after consecutive road losses, with Dean Smith's squad particularly eager to build on their impressive 5-1-0 home record this season.
The Fire arrive with newfound momentum after dispatching Atlanta United and crushing Detroit City in cup action, though their road form remains problematic with seven goals conceded in their last away defeat at Nashville.
Charlotte's home fortress mentality has been their saving grace this campaign, with Wilfried Zaha and Liel Abada (four goals each) powering an attack that's scored multiple goals in five straight home fixtures.
Chicago will lean heavily on Hungarian striker Hunor Cuypers, whose eight-goal tally leads all players in this matchup, but must shore up a defense that's been repeatedly exposed on their travels.
History favors the hosts, who've won both previous encounters including last October's seven-goal thriller, as Charlotte looks to maintain their perfect record against Chicago.
With both teams sitting mid-table in the Eastern Conference—Charlotte at seventh and Chicago at eleventh—this clash presents a crucial opportunity for either side to gain valuable ground in the playoff race.
Key stats
- 1Charlotte sits 7th in the standings with 19 points but has lost four of their last five matches (LLLLW)
- 2Chicago Fire ranks 11th with 16 points after 12 games, with a balanced record of 4 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses
- 3Charlotte has scored 20 goals while conceding 17 this season, showing their games average over 2.8 total goals
- 4Chicago Fire has the second-worst defensive record among playoff contenders, allowing 23 goals in 12 matches (1.92 per game)
Charlotte vs. Chicago Fire form
Charlotte vs. Chicago Fire head to head
Charlotte
83%
Chicago Fire
17%
Oct 2, 2024
Charlotte
4 : 3
Chicago Fire
May 16, 2024
Chicago Fire
0 : 1
Charlotte
Oct 8, 2023
Chicago Fire
0 : 2
Charlotte
May 17, 2023
Charlotte
2 : 1
Chicago Fire
Sep 18, 2022
Chicago Fire
2 : 3
Charlotte
Aug 6, 2022
Charlotte
2 : 3
Chicago Fire
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