FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution open the 2021 MLS season with a visit to Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field tonight, with kickoff set for 8:30 p.m. ET. The match will air on the Revolution’s new television homes, WBZ-TV and myRITV, as well as on the radio at 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBIX 1260 AM Nossa Radio USA. Pregame coverage on WBZ-TV begins at 8:00 p.m. ET with Revolution Kickoff.

Here is a closer look at New England’s starting lineup:  

Starting XI (4-4-2): GK Matt Turner; D DeJuan Jones, D Andrew Farrell, D Henry Kessler, D Brandon Bye; M Matt Polster, M Tommy McNamara; LM Tajon Buchanan, RM Carles Gil ©; F Gustavo Bou, F Adam Buksa
Lineup Notes:

• New England’s first Starting XI of the season features two changes from December’s Eastern Conference Final, with right back Brandon Bye and midfielder Tommy McNamara stepping in for Teal Bunbury and Scott Caldwell, who are on the bench for today’s contest.
• This season marks Bruce Arena’s 17^th MLS campaign and third with the Revolution. Arena has led his teams to MLS Cup in seven of his previous 16 seasons.
• Carles Gil captains the Revolution into the 2021 campaign – his third in New England – on the heels of a prolific postseason that saw him register two goals and three assists across four games. Only two players, Minnesota’s Emmanuel Reynoso and Columbus’ Lucas Zelarayán, submitted more combined goals and assists than Gil did in last year’s MLS Cup Playoffs. He enters the year with a clean bill of health after being limited to six regular-season appearances in 2020.
• Playing in front of Gil are fellow Designated Players Gustavo Bou and Adam Buksa, who combined for 15 goals across all competitions last season. Buksa was a staple in New England’s lineup in 2020 – he was the only player to appear in all 28 contests across all competitions.
• Dating back to his MLS debut on July 17, 2019, only five players have scored more times from open play than Bou, who owns 12 goals over that time span.  
• Across all competitions in 2020, the Revolution went 5-2-1 in games when Bou, Buksa, and Gil all played.  
• Tajon Buchanan will be deployed along the left wing after starting all four of New England’s playoff games at right back. Buchanan, 22, emerged as one of MLS’ brightest and most dynamic young players in 2020. He was rewarded for his play with a call-up to the Canada Under-23 Men’s National Team for the Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where he started all four of the team’s games and scored twice.
• In net, goalkeeper Matt Turner looks to best a 2020 campaign that saw him finish second in All State MLS Goalkeeper of the Year voting. Turner finished among the league leaders in virtually every goalkeeping category last season and submitted a shutout in his U.S. Men’s National Team debut in January.
• Matt Polster and Tommy McNamara will patrol central midfield for the Revolution. Polster enters his first full season with the Revs after arriving from Scottish Premier League side Rangers FC in July of last year. He appeared in 19 games, including all four of the club’s playoff games, and logged just over 1,000 minutes played in 2020.
• McNamara, acquired by the Revolution mid-way through last season, also enters his first full campaign with the squad. He appeared in 14 games with the Revs last season and added four additional games played in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
• Andrew Farrell and Henry Kessler return to comprise the Revolution’s center back tandem, having started all but three regular season games alongside each other in 2020. Farrell enters his ninth professional season with an opportunity to break club records for games played, games started, and minutes played in 2021.
• Kessler, the Revolution’s reigning Defender of the Year, looks to build on a rookie season in which he appeared in all but one game across all competitions. The second-year pro made his international debut with the United States Under-23 Men’s National Team at the Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where he started three of the team’s four games.
• DeJuan Jones and Brandon Bye round out the starting XI, slotting in at left back and right back, respectively. Jones reprises his role on the left flank after starting all four of the team’s playoff games there last season. Bye started 22 regular-season games for New England at right back last season, and recorded two additional appearances in the postseason.

Bench: GK Brad Knighton, D Jon Bell, D A.J. DeLaGarza, M Emmanuel Boateng, M Scott Caldwell, M Wilfrid Kaptoum, F Teal Bunbury, F Edward Kizza
Bench Notes:

• Newcomer Wilfrid Kaptoum, acquired by New England this offseason, could potentially make his Revolution and MLS debut in Chicago. The Cameroonian midfielder was limited in preseason by an injury, but the former FC Barcelona and Real Betis midfielder is available for selection in the season opener.
• Brad Knighton, the Revolution’s longest-tenured player, returns for his 11^th MLS season with the club.
• Scott Caldwell¸ the club’s second longest-tenured player, returns for his ninth season with the Revolution. League wide, Caldwell is the ninth longest-tenured player with one team.
• Last year’s Revolution Golden Boot winner with a team-best eight goals, Teal Bunbury enters his 12^th MLS campaign, including his eighth with the Revolution.
• Free agent signings A.J. DeLaGarza and Emmanuel Boateng make their debut in the Revolution’s match day squad. Both players featured extensively for Sporting Director & Head Coach Bruce Arena with LA Galaxy. DeLaGarza won three MLS Cups and two Supporters Shields with Arena in LA. Boateng captured last year’s MLS Cup with Columbus Crew SC.
• Selected by the Revolution with the 24^th-overall pick in January’s SuperDraft after an outstanding career at the University of Pittsburgh, forward Edward Kizza looks to make his professional debut in tonight’s match.
• Rounding out the match day squad is defender Jon Bell¸ who signed with the Revolution’s first team after spending 2020 with Revolution II. Bell is the first Revolution II alum ever to make the senior side’s match day squad.