Gotham FC vs Chicago Red Stars preview: Seeking three points with three games to go

One week removed from their best offensive performance of the NWSL season, NJ/NY Gotham FC will visit Chicago to take on the Chicago Red Stars. This is the third time the Bats and Chicago will play each other with Gotham getting the better of the previous two matchups. A 2-1 win back in May thanks to a 90th-minute winner from former Red Star Ella Stevens and a penalty shootout win in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup in July should give the visitors the confidence to believe they can go three for three against Chicago this season.

For Gotham FC, a home playoff game can be clinched this weekend. All they need is a draw against Chicago and they'll be guaranteed a home playoff game in the first round regardless of results around the league. This match also marks the beginning of their final three-match week of 2024. On Wednesday they host Tigres UANL Femenil in their final group stage match of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. This is their most important match of the competition since a win will see them clinch the top spot in Group A. They then host the shield-winning Orlando Pride next Sunday. While this is by far their easiest three-match week from a travel perspective as two of their three games are at home, the difficulty of the matches being played probably makes it one of their hardest.

For Chicago, they can clinch a playoff spot this weekend, becoming the sixth team to do so. If they win or Racing Louisville FC drops points during their visit to the Washington Spirit, the Red Stars punch their ticket to the playoffs. Still, they will be motivated to win and clinch a playoff spot in front of their home crowd. So while Gotham has gotten the best of them twice this season, the home side will be playing with extra motivation to win this weekend.

Both of these teams go into this matchup highly motivated to lock up differing levels of certainty come playoff time. This should be an entertaining watch since the rosters have the talent to win on any given matchday. Here is a preview of this weekend's match.

Date

Gotham FC will visit the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday, October, 12.

Time

The match is scheduled for kickoff at 4:00 PM ET, 3:00 PM CT.

How to watch

The match will be streamed on NWSL+, Paramount+, and CBS Sports Golazo Network. On TV, fans in Gotham FC's area can watch on MSG.

Location

The match will be played at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.

Weather

It looks like the teams are in store for a nice October afternoon. The temperature at kickoff will be 70 degrees, cooling ever so slightly throughout the match. Humidity will hover around 60%, and cloudy skies will be present from kickoff to the final whistle.

Injury Report

Kelley O'Hara (knee), Midge Purce (knee), and Abby Smith (lower leg) are still on the season-ending injury list.

In addition, Crystal Dunn (excused absence) and Svava Guðmundsdóttir (excused absence) continue to be out for Saturday.

Players to Watch

Mallory Swanson is having an excellent season for Chicago. With seven goals, there is still an outside chance she matches her career high in goals of eleven she set back in 2022. A big reason why Chicago has been able to go from last in 2023 to on the verge of the playoffs this year is having a healthy Swanson. She only played two matches in 2023 after suffering a serious knee injury early last year.

After a slow first half of the season, Esther González has really rounded into form in recent weeks capped off by her four minutes of magic against Bay FC where she registered two goals and an assist. If she can start firing in the goals alongside players like Lynn Williams and Ella Stevens, Gotham might have finally solved the finishing bugaboo that has haunted them in 2024.

Prediction

The want to win and clinch a playoff spot at home isn't enough for Chicago this weekend as they will fall 1-0 to Gotham FC. González will score the goal after coming on as a sub as she did against Bay last week. Regardless of what the final score ends up being, expect this to be a close game and for one goal to make the difference for the winning team.