ShareThe Chicago Fire have made a strong start to the 2026 MLS season, though they face Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC next.Dje Tah D'Avilla insisted the Chicago Fire are not worried about missing out on the play-offs this year as they were last season.The Fire finished eighth in the Eastern Conference last term, qualifying for the postseason, while they are fifth after five games in 2026 ahead of a difficult test against Nashville SC.They defeated the Philadelphia Union, who won the Supporters Shield last season, 2-1 last time out, with D'Avilla playing a starring role.The midfielder competed in the joint-most duels (22) and won the second-most (13), while he won the most tackles (four) and completed 80% of his passes (32/40).D'Avilla joined from Portuguese second-tier side Leiria midway through the 2025 campaign, making 24 MLS appearances last term.The 22-year-old believes he has benefited from a full pre-season, while the Fire have also grown as a whole."I think I grew a lot in my game, improving a lot of things," D’Avilla told reporters."We keep pushing because we know we can improve a lot also. We [made] the playoffs [last year], before, we were worried. But I don’t think now we are worried about that."When you look at the team, you are not worried about that. Something is clear now."This is different because last year, I just came in and I don’t have the preseason with the team, and it’s more difficult."When you already play maybe 30 games in Europe and come one month without training, after starting to play MLS, it’s tough."And now, it’s different. I already started the preseason with the boys and I know everybody, and it’s easier to build this season than last year."Nashville are unbeaten so far in 2026, picking up 13 points from their opening five games as they lead the East.They thrashed Orlando City 5-0 before the international break, while Nashville also knocked Inter Miami out of the Champions Cup on away goals to reach the quarter-finals of the competition.PLAYERS TO WATCHChicago Fire – Hugo CuypersHugo Cuypers is the second Chicago Fire player to score in each of his first four appearances of a season, joining Mike Magee, who did so after joining Chicago midseason in 2013.The only players to score in five straight regular-season matches for the Fire are Robert Beric (2020) and David Accam (2017).Nashville SC – Sam SurridgeSam Surridge scored his fourth regular-season hat-trick in his 75th MLS appearance in Nashville's 5-0 win over Orlando on March 21.Only five players needed fewer games to score their first four career MLS hat-tricks.MATCH PREDICTION: DRAWNashville's 13 points through five matches is the best start to a season in club history.Nashville have a +11 goal difference (13 scored, two conceded), tied for the second best after five matches in league history behind only the Vancouver Whitecaps' +12 this season.Chicago lost their last home match 2-1 to D.C. United on March 14 after a season-opening 3-0 home win over CF Montreal in February.The Fire have lost consecutive home matches just once since the start of the 2025 season, doing so last June.Nashville have recorded four straight wins over Chicago by an aggregate score of 13-2 over the last two seasons and have lost just one of nine all-time meetings (W6 D2).In fact, Hany Mukhtar (nine goals) has nearly doubled the Fire’s scoring output (five goals) by himself over the nine games.OPTA WIN PROBABILITYChicago Fire – 38%Draw – 26.4%Nashville SC – 35.6%The Chicago Fire have made a strong start to the 2026 MLS season, though they face Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC next.Dje Tah D'Avilla insisted the Chicago Fire are not worried about missing out on the play-offs this year as they were last season.The Fire finished eighth in the Eastern Conference last term, qualifying for the postseason, while they are fifth after five games in 2026 ahead of a difficult test against Nashville SC.They defeated the Philadelphia Union, who won the Supporters Shield last season, 2-1 last time out, with D'Avilla playing a starring role.The midfielder competed in the joint-most duels (22) and won the second-most (13), while he won the most tackles (four) and completed 80% of his passes (32/40).D'Avilla joined from Portuguese second-tier side Leiria midway through the 2025 campaign, making 24 MLS appearances last term.The 22-year-old believes he has benefited from a full pre-season, while the Fire have also grown as a whole."I think I grew a lot in my game, improving a lot of things," D’Avilla told reporters."We keep pushing because we know we can improve a lot also. We [made] the playoffs [last year], before, we were worried. But I don’t think now we are worried about that."When you look at the team, you are not worried about that. Something is clear now."This is different because last year, I just came in and I don’t have the preseason with the team, and it’s more difficult."When you already play maybe 30 games in Europe and come one month without training, after starting to play MLS, it’s tough."And now, it’s different. I already started the preseason with the boys and I know everybody, and it’s easier to build this season than last year."Nashville are unbeaten so far in 2026, picking up 13 points from their opening five games as they lead the East.They thrashed Orlando City 5-0 before the international break, while Nashville also knocked Inter Miami out of the Champions Cup on away goals to reach the quarter-finals of the competition.PLAYERS TO WATCHChicago Fire – Hugo CuypersHugo Cuypers is the second Chicago Fire player to score in each of his first four appearances of a season, joining Mike Magee, who did so after joining Chicago midseason in 2013.The only players to score in five straight regular-season matches for the Fire are Robert Beric (2020) and David Accam (2017).Nashville SC – Sam SurridgeSam Surridge scored his fourth regular-season hat-trick in his 75th MLS appearance in Nashville's 5-0 win over Orlando on March 21.Only five players needed fewer games to score their first four career MLS hat-tricks.MATCH PREDICTION: DRAWNashville's 13 points through five matches is the best start to a season in club history.Nashville have a +11 goal difference (13 scored, two conceded), tied for the second best after five matches in league history behind only the Vancouver Whitecaps' +12 this season.Chicago lost their last home match 2-1 to D.C. United on March 14 after a season-opening 3-0 home win over CF Montreal in February.The Fire have lost consecutive home matches just once since the start of the 2025 season, doing so last June.Nashville have recorded four straight wins over Chicago by an aggregate score of 13-2 over the last two seasons and have lost just one of nine all-time meetings (W6 D2).In fact, Hany Mukhtar (nine goals) has nearly doubled the Fire’s scoring output (five goals) by himself over the nine games.OPTA WIN PROBABILITYChicago Fire – 38%Draw – 26.4%Nashville SC – 35.6%