Franco ready for more minutes after injury return for Chicago

The 28-year-old came off the bench in Chicago’s 4-2 win over the Colorado Rapids last time out, standing for the very first time because September 2025 after a knee injury.

The Fire are 4th in the Eastern Conference ahead of hosting the Columbus Crew on Decision Day.

Chicago currently understand they will deal with Charlotte FC in the preliminary of the playoffs, however seeding is still up for grabs with one video game to go.

And Franco is intending to get some more minutes for the Fire ahead of the postseason.

“It was fun, a lot of emotions,” Franco stated after making his return. “You understand, whatever enters my head. It was great.

“At the very same time, I was upset due to the fact that I wished to play more, however this is how football works. At the end of the day, it was an excellent day for me returning on the field.

“Now it’s getting the shape to be able to play more and more minutes.”

A long roadway to healing brought André back to the pitch https://t.co/dtkytkuAHG

— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) November 1, 2026

Columbus sealed their area in the play-off with a 3-0 success over D.C. United last time out.

The Crew are presently 8th, inhabiting among the 2 wildcard areas, however can still complete inside the leading 7 if they beat Chicago and FC Cincinnati lose versus conference leaders Nashville SC.

“There’s a good base. This is a team. This shows cohesion and chemistry,” stated Columbus interim employer Courtois.

“Yes, everybody has individual characteristics, but for the most part, we have a identity which is the most important thing.”

GAMERS TO WATCH

Chicago Fire– Robert Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski ended his eight-match scoring dry spell with an objective at Colorado on Saturday, his very first objective given that early September, scoring off the bench for the very first time in 4 alternative looks in MLS.

In Germany and Spain, he netted 25 times in 57 replacement looks in league play.

Columbus Crew– Dylan Chambost

Dylan Chambost helped 2 of Columbus’s 3 objectives in their win over D.C. United on Saturday, taking him to 5 helps in his last 3 regular-season matches.

Chambost had 4 helps in his very first 26 looks of the season before tape-recording 5 in his last 3.

MATCH PREDICTION: CHICAGO FIRE WIN

Chicago’s 55 points this season are their most in a single season considering that making 57 points in the 2012 season. That 57-point mark stands as the most in a single season in club history (likewise in a 32-game season in 2000), a mark the Fire can go beyond with a win on Saturday.

Columbus have actually won 7 of their last 8 regular-season matches, consisting of the last 5 in a row, to clinch a playoff area. This equates to the Crew’s longest outright-winning streak (omitting breakaway shootout wins) in club history, the seventh time they have actually attained the task.

Columbus have actually lost just 2 of their last 19 conferences with Chicago in all competitors (W10 D7) going back to May 2018, however the Fire have actually prevented defeat in the last 2 (W1 D1), consisting of winning the last conference in your home, 2– 0 in September 2025.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Chicago Fire– 46.6%

Draw– 26.5%

Columbus Crew– 26.9%