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Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller set for long-awaited MLS reunion
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- Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller set for long-awaited MLS reunion
Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller set for long-awaited MLS reunion
By Ari Liljenwall
Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller were supposed to reunite in MLS months ago.
Now, after wildfires postponed the highly anticipated matchup between the former Bayern Munich teammates, two of the league's biggest stars could finally share the field when Chicago Fire FC host Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Tuesday night (8:30 pm ET | Apple TV ).
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Since their respective blockbuster arrivals, both have quickly made their presence felt in MLS. Müller helped propel Vancouver to their first MLS Cup presented by Audi appearance after joining the club in August 2025 and has since recorded 19g/11a in 45 appearances across all competitions. Lewandowski, meanwhile, has 6g/2a through his first 11 MLS appearances since joining Chicago this summer.
Lewandowski and Müller spent eight seasons together at Bayern from 2014-22, emerging as two of the defining stars of a dominant era for the German giants. The pair won eight straight Bundesliga titles together, highlighted by Bayern's 2019-20 treble-winning campaign, while forming one of Europe's most prolific attacking partnerships.
During those years together, the 'Raumdeuter' ('space interpreter') delivered an incredible 42 league assists for 'Lewy', setting a Bundesliga record that is unlikely to be broken anytime soon. As Müller has previously said himself, the duo had a "special connection."
On Tuesday, that connection will be rekindled as opponents rather than teammates.
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Postseason implications
Lewandowski returned to Chicago early from international duty with Poland after a yellow-card suspension ruled him out of Monday's UEFA Nations League match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Chicago head coach Gregg Berhalter said Monday that Lewandowski has no predetermined minutes restriction for Tuesday, but the Fire were still evaluating his status after he flew back to Chicago on Sunday.
The reunion also arrives with plenty at stake for both clubs. Chicago enter Tuesday fifth in the Eastern Conference on 42 points, just one point back of Charlotte FC in the race for a top-four finish and home-field advantage in Round One of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
"When you get to this time of the year, the matchups and the games have very strong implications on where you're going to finish in the table," Berhalter said. "And that's the beauty of it.
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"For us, it's a great opportunity. We feel confident, especially after the last win. The guys are feeling good, training well, and now it's time to go out and compete."
Vancouver, on the other hand, sit atop the Western Conference with 50 points as they look to cement their top-dog status and position themselves for another deep playoff run.
"Vancouver's a very intense team, obviously doing well in their conference," Chicago midfielder Mauricio Pineda said. "We've been preparing well for that. ... It'll be good. I think we're preparing well for it and hope to have an intense start, get the crowd behind us.
"Good to be home again. So, yeah, nothing less than three points is the expectation for us."
