ANALYSIS: Tactical Shift Guides Fire to 3-0 Win at Minnesota
Gregg Berhalter’s tactical masterclass guided the Chicago Fire to a massive victory over Minnesota United on Saturday night.
The Men in Red switched to a 3-4-3 formation and took down the Loons 3-0 on the road.
With every passing week, the MLS Cup Playoffs are closer and closer for Chicago.
A Risk Worth Taking
For the duration of the 2025 season, the Fire have played some variant of a 4-3-3 formation. When chasing a game late, Berhalter and his staff occasionally switch to a strike partnership up top, but for the most part, the tactics have remained unchanged.
That all went out the window on Saturday.
The Fire rolled out a three-man back line of Jack Elliott, Joel Waterman, and Sam Rogers. Andrew Gutman and Jonathan Dean moved into more advanced wingback roles, while Dje D’Avilla and Andre Franco made up the double pivot.
While the front three of Jonathan Bamba, Hugo Cuypers, and Philip Zinckernagel stayed put in the starting XI, midfielder Brian Gutierrez was the sacrificial lamb—any worries about the shift disappeared by the end of the first half. The Fire dominated the possession and looked purposeful off set pieces. Franco in particular dominated in the two-man midfield setup, serving as a deep-lying playmaker. He and D’Avilla were a force to be reckoned with for the entirety of the match, and they even combined for the Fire’s third goal (D’Avilla’s first in MLS).
Defensively, the Men in Red were solid like never before. Gutman and Dean, who have at times struggled to track back in time, were covered for by the extra center-back and free to roam further up the pitch. Each member of the back line did their job, keeping Minnesota out of the 18-yard box for the most part. On the rare occasion the hosts managed to work their way into a dangerous position, they were simply outnumbered by red shirts. Chris Brady, who made four saves, picked up a long-awaited clean sheet.
Recipe for Success?
It’ll be fascinating to see what the coaching staff decides after the smashing success that was Saturday night. The 3-4-3 formation worked like a charm against Minnesota, but the element of surprise is now gone. The Fire’s four remaining opponents will be better prepared to deal with the new system. On the bright side, Berhalter has shown the world just how versatile and tactically flexible this Chicago team is.
This revelation couldn’t have come at a better time. The Fire are as close as they’ve been to the playoffs in the last eight years. This week’s matchup against the Columbus Crew is pivotal. Three points would not only solidify the Men in Red’s playoff hopes but also put them in a good position to finish 8th in the Eastern Conference. Such an outcome would guarantee the Fire a home playoff game.
Whether they come out with three-at-the-back on Saturday evening or not, Chicago is catching fire. The Fire’s boldness in big moments has made this season one to remember, and that held true in Minnesota.
Now, it’s time for the final stretch.
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