Red Stars v Racing Preview
Courtesy USA Today Sports Images
Racing and the Red Stars face each other for the 3rd time in a month on Saturday evening. These teams have to be tired of seeing each other, especially since all of the recent matches have ended in a draw. In fact, it’s entirely possible that Racing won’t face a different team from who they faced in the Challenge Cup until May 18th if the OL Reign make the Challenge Cup finals. If that occurs, the first time Racing get to see a new opponent in 2022 will be a home match vs. San Diego Wave. Who knows…the Wave might even have actual kits by then!
Speaking of kits, Racing won’t debut their new away kits in Chicago. I think the Red Stars almost always prefer their white kit anyway. The new kit is about a good as it can be based on the stupidly paternalistic policy of having a single kit manufacturer and the restrictions that the league puts on the kits. I’m sure everyone has seen the kit by now, but here is a picture anyway. I like the lavender touches and the fully mint green shorts.
Courtesy Racing Louisville FC
Chicago (as every Racing fan will gladly tell you) has never beaten Louisville. Racing definitely has the bragging rights so far in the head-to-head matchups, but other than that very odd 3-0 victory by Racing in a weather delayed match in Chicago last year, most of the matches have been really even. The Red Stars injury report hasn’t become public at the time of writing this (and I may update this post when it becomes public), but I assume it will look much like last week which was rather lengthy. Racing only lists Nadim as unavailable. In other availability news, Alex Chidiac is rumored to arrive in town today. It will be too early for her to be in consideration for this match, but next week (if the OL Reign match happens) or definitely in a couple of weeks where Racing has 3 games in 9 days stretch should see Chidiac make her debut.
For one of the few times in recent memory, I didn’t attend a late week practice so that gives me the chance to wildly speculate as to what the line-up might be without having the benefit of any inside information. Based on recent history, here’s how I think Racing will line up:
But honestly, here’s the line-up I’m dying to see:
I still think Ebony Salmon is valuable to this team, but she needs service, and she needs minutes with the full first team. I think Coach Björkegren plays his cards close to the vest sometimes, so it wouldn’t be completely unreasonable to have him throw out a Starting XI we haven’t seen, but ultimately, I think he will go with something that looks like the first lineup. The biggest reason I think he will go with that lineup is that it’s probably his best pressing lineup and formation. To be fair, Salmon’s last two goals for Racing have come out of her pressing, but Coach Kim likely would not have that in the front of his mind. I think Racing have to do something different in this match to get all 3 points. The question is: does Björkegren want to risk the draw for the win?
