New York Red Bulls vs Chicago Fire: Forsberg, Lewandowski
Updated
New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire meet on Saturday, August 22, for the second leg of the Red Bulls’ three-match homestand, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET in MLS Regular Season Matchday 21. The Red Bulls return to their usual Sports Illustrated Stadium home after a midweek date with Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC, while Chicago Fire arrive as one of the conference’s form sides, sitting fourth in the table on 29 points.
Team News and Injury Latest
Michael Bradley’s Red Bulls continue without goalkeeper A.J. Marcucci, who remains sidelined with a knee injury. Rafael Mosquera is listed as questionable due to a thigh issue, leaving his availability in doubt for the wide positions. No suspension concerns cloud the home selection, and captain Emil Forsberg—fresh from scoring in back-to-back MLS matches—is expected to lead the attack again after netting his 23rd franchise goal.
Chicago Fire have three confirmed absentees: André Franco (lower body) and Mbekezeli Mbokazi (lower body) are ruled out, while Chris Mueller is also unavailable for a reason listed as “Not Due to Injury.” Midfielder Sergio Oregel Jr. carries a questionable tag with his own lower-body problem. The Fire’s forward line, spearheaded by Robert Lewandowski, remains intact as the Polish striker looks to extend a scoring run that has helped Chicago win four consecutive matches across all competitions.
Red Bulls Form Guide
New York sit eighth in the Eastern Conference with 25 points from 18 matches (7-4-7) and a minus-10 goal difference — a ledger that underscores defensive vulnerability. They have posted a 2-1-1 mark over their last four outings at Sports Illustrated Stadium, most recently blanking Nashville SC 2-0 behind a Forsberg strike. Away from home, the story has been less kind: a recent defeat at Atlanta United, where ex-Red Bull Fafà Picault grabbed the winner, exposed the club’s struggles to close out tight road contests. Emil Forsberg’s six goal contributions in his last seven league appearances provide the clearest attacking pulse; keeping a clean sheet remains the bigger ask.
Chicago Fire’s Recent Surge
Chicago enter the contest fourth in the East (29 points, 9-2-6) with a plus-9 goal differential — the third-best attacking output in the conference at 32 goals scored. Their current four-match winning run in all competitions was underscored by a mid-April 3-3 shootout at FC Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium, where Evander and Kenji Mboma Dem found the net for the Fire amid end-to-end defending. Headlined by Lewandowski, Chicago’s front group has overwhelmed defences during this streak, though away form has occasionally wobbled against high-pressure opponents. In a tight playoff ladder — Chicago trail third-place New England by a single point — every road point is becoming critical.
Key Battle: Forsberg’s Movement vs Chicago’s Transition Defence
Emil Forsberg’s ability to drift between the lines and convert half-chances has been New York’s brightest attacking feature during this homestand. Chicago, however, have shown defensive gaps when forced to retreat quickly: their 3-3 draw with Cincinnati featured three conceded goals despite controlling large spells of possession. If Forsberg finds pockets behind the Fire’s midfield screen, the Red Bulls can turn this into a high-event encounter. The counter-threat posed by Lewandowski means New York’s centre-backs will have to balance ambition with caution — overcommit in search of Forsberg combinations and Chicago’s transition speed could punish them.
What’s at Stake
A win for New York would solidify their hold on the Eastern Conference playoff line and set up a genuine push up the standings with one home match remaining in the current stand. Chicago, meanwhile, can leapfrog New England and move to 32 points, tightening their grip on a top-four place. The second meeting of the season between these two conference rivals doubles as Fireworks Night at the Red Bulls’ home, ensuring a charged atmosphere as both sides chase results that could reshape the playoff race by the end of the weekend.
Where to Watch
Coverage in English and Spanish is available on Apple TV, with Red Bulls Radio providing English-language audio via the Red Bull New York app and RedBullNewYork.com. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET.
