New York Red Bulls vs New York City Prediction & Betting Tips - Major League Soccer

Prediction published on 18/08/2020, 03:07  by James | Modified on 18/08/2020 at 04:07 in Major League Soccer Predictions

The regular season of Major League Soccer has resumed after the conclusion of the MLS is Back tournament. We kick off the weekend with a Big Apple derby when New York Red Bulls host New York City FC at Red Bull Arena. Remember that the group stage results of the MLS is Back tournament count towards the regular season standings. In that regard, neither club performed particularly well, each winning once and losing twice. It leaves the Red Bulls sixth in the Eastern Conference after five games, the energy drink-backed franchise having won two games before the lockdown. City are a further four points behind them in 13th having only picked up one win in five this season. This is unacceptable for a side that topped the Eastern Conference in the 2019 season and that finished in the top three in the two years prior. New coach Ronny Deila is struggling to fill the boots of departed coach Domenec Torrent, who went to Brazilian giants Flamengo in the off-season. The Red Bulls, meanwhile, have qualified for the MLS Cup (finished in the top six) for the past 10 seasons, a run they will be looking to maintain come the campaign's end.

The Red Bulls are the historical powerhouses of this fixture, winning nine of the 16 meetings between the sides. However, they haven't had things their own way in recent meetings, losing two and winning only one of the last four. At the Red Bull Arena, they are significantly more dominant, winning seven and losing only one of the nine games there against City. That lone defeat came back in 2017 and City have lost on their last three visits. Recent Red Bull games have been low-scoring with the last four featuring fewer than three goals. This could be low-scoring but we suggest backing the home side to pick up another home derby win.