Nashville SC vs. Chicago Fire – MLS, October 31, 2020

Nashville’s remarkable four-game unbeaten streak has seen the Tennessee club break into the automatic play-off places in the Eastern Conference for the very first time.

Gary Smith’s men welcome the Fire to Nissan Stadium on Saturday, October 31. A three-game winless run has seen Chicago slip to tenth in the table – seven points behind Nashville.

If you’re interested in wagering on Thursday’s clash, make sure you check out my Nashville SC vs. Chicago Fire prediction and betting pick below.

Chicago (2.70) still has an excellent chance of qualifying for the play-offs, so I don’t think you can write off the away side altogether on Saturday. However, it is difficult to argue with the bookies’ odds for this matchup.

Nashville (2.50) has been on fire in recent weeks, winning three of their last four games while suffering just one defeat in their previous nine.

Nashville’s debut MLS campaign just keeps on getting better!

Smith’s men claimed a 1-0 victory over Montreal Impact in midweek, propelling themselves into the top six in the process. Randall Leal netted the only goal of the game, but considering the team registered 16 shots, the scoreline could easily have been a lot bigger.

Understandably, it took the newcomers a little while to find their feet earlier in the season. But it now feels like Nashville is well and truly in their groove. After losing four of their opening six games this term, the Tennessee club has now lost just two of their last 14.

It is no secret that Smith’s men have struggled for goals in 2020. In fact, only bottom-club Cincinnati has netted on fewer occasions. But what they lack in attack, they more than make up for in defense. Only third-place Columbus Crew has conceded fewer goals than Nashville in the Eastern Conference.

Goalkeeper Joe Willis has kept an outstanding nine clean sheets in 20 appearances this year. That’s a shutout rate of 45%!

First MLS season. First MLS playoff berth. pic.twitter.com/O6LzznVbEW

— x – Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) October 29, 2020

By contrast, Chicago has one of the poorest defensive records in the division. Only two sides in the East have conceded more goals than the Fire, although it’s fair to say that their success has come at the other end of the pitch this season.

Raphael Wicky’s men lost 2-1 to Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, yet they gave a great account of themselves. The team remained a constant threat throughout the match, despite being reduced to ten men in the first half.

You probably won’t be surprised to hear that Robert Beric was on target once again in midweek. The Slovenian striker has now scored eight goals in his last ten appearances, and it doesn’t look like he will be slowing down anytime soon.

Beric’s recent efforts have seen his team lose just two of their previous eight outings. Three wins and three draws in that time prove just how resilient Chicago is.

Nashville will be on a high after guaranteeing a top-ten finish earlier in the week. However, it is important to remember that Chicago has play-off ambitions of their own.

Smith’s side is on an eye-catching run at the moment, but with Beric in seemingly unstoppable goalscoring form right now, I can see the Fire snatching a point on Saturday.