Fresh off the back of a 2-0 friendly defeat against La Liga powerhouse Barcelona, New York Red Bulls play host to Colorado Rapids at the Red Bull Arena on Tuesday.
The Rapids, meanwhile, head into the game as one of just two sides yet to taste victory away from home in the MLS this season and will be desperate to end this poor record.
Match preview
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New York Red Bulls were condemned to a second consecutive defeat as they were beaten 2-0 by Barcelona when the sides squared off in a thrilling friendly fixture on Saturday evening.
French forward Ousmane Dembele continued his sensational pre-season form as he broke the deadlock on the 40th-minute mark before substitute Memphis Depay capped off a solid team display with an 87th-minute strike.
Prior to that, Gerhard Struber's men were sent packing from the US Open Cup in the semi-finals on July 28, when they suffered a 5-1 humbling against Orlando City at the Exploria Stadium.
New York Red Bulls now turn their attention to the MLS, where they are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, level on 36 points with third-placed CF Montreal after 22 rounds of matches.
Their solid campaign has been in no small part owing to their impressive run of results away from home, where they have picked up seven wins and two draws from 12 games and currently boast the conference's best point tally (23)
New York Red Bulls head into Tuesday unbeaten in six of their last seven home games in the MLS — claiming three wins and three draws — with a 1-0 derby defeat against New York City FC on July 17 being the only exception.
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Colorado Rapids, on the other hand, were sent crashing down to earth last time out as they fell to a disappointing 2-1 loss against 10-man Seattle Sounders when the sides met at the Lumen Field.
In a game where Kelyn Rowe received his marching orders, Jonathan Lewis and Jordan Morris scored for either side to end the first half level before Nicolas Lodeiro calmly converted his 71st-minute penalty to hand the Sounders all three points.
Prior to that, the Rapids ended their run of six consecutive games without a win on July 17, when they claimed an impressive 2-0 victory over LA Galaxy courtesy of goals from Diego Rubio and 30-year-old Gyasi Zardes.
Robin Fraser's men have picked up six wins, six draws and lost nine of their 21 games this season to collect 24 points and sit 12th in the Western Conference standings, four points and two places above rock-bottom Sporting Kansas City.
Colorado Rapids head into Tuesday as the only side in the West who are yet to pick up a win away from home this season, losing seven and managing three draws from their 10 games so far.
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Team News
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New York Red Bulls will be without English defender Tom Edwards, who will serve a one-match suspension after crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking against Austin FC on July 25.
On the injury front, Struber will be unable to call upon the midfield duo of AJ Marcucci and Wikelman Carmona, who continue their spells on the sidelines through shoulder and foot injuries respectively.
Like the hosts, Colorado Rapids will be without midfielders Jack Price and Oliver Larraz, who have been ruled out through calf and leg injuries respectively.
The Rapids will once again have to make do without the services Aboubacar Keita and Argentine forward Braian Galvan, who are yet to feature this year as they currently battle ACL injuries.
With his assists against Seattle Sounders last time out, Rubio now boasts 12 goal involvements in 19 appearances this season and the 29-year-old will certainly be one to keep an eye out for.
New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Coronel; Nealis, Long, Nealis, Tolkin, Casseres Jr; Amaya, Luquinhas, Fernandez, Morgan; Edwards
Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Yarbrough; Rosenberry, Abubakar, Vallecilla, Esteves; Acosta; Barrios, Priso-Mbongue, Rubio, Lewis; Zardes
We say: New York Red Bulls 2-0 Colorado Rapids
While Colorado Rapids will be looking to pick up their first road win of the season, they face a solid New York Red Bulls side who have suffered just one home defeat in the league since April. The home side are favourites to come out on top and we predict that they will comfortably claim all three points against Fraser's men.
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