Seeking consecutive victories for the first time in the 2024 MLS regular season, the New England Revolution head to Red Bull Arena on Saturday to face the New York Red Bulls.
A 6-2 defeat to Inter Miami extended the Red Bulls' winless run to four matches in league play, while the Revs ended a four-game losing run across all competition by defeating the Chicago Fire 1-0.
Match preview
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For the second time in the Sandro Schwarz era, the Red Bulls' mettle will be tested this weekend after falling apart in the final 45 minutes against Miami despite holding a 1-0 lead at the half.
It was the third successive MLS encounter this season in which New York had failed to emerge victorious despite drawing first blood, as they have now dropped seven points in this competition when scoring first.
On the opposite side though, the Red Bulls have picked up seven points during the 2024 MLS campaign when conceding the opening goal, as they sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with 17 points, eight more than they had after 11 league contests a year ago.
Last Saturday was the second time this season that they had lost by three or more goals, and the previous time that happened, they responded well, defeating Inter Miami 4-0 following a 3-0 loss to the Columbus Crew.
New York are unbeaten at home in the 2024 regular season, conceding a goal or fewer in all four of those contests, while they have at least a point in five successive regular season affairs at Red Bull Arena.
They have emerged victorious in each of their last three encounters across all competitions versus New England at Red Bull Arena, most recently beating them 4-2 on penalties at home during the 2023 Leagues Cup group phase.
Last weekend, the New England Revolution finally achieved something positive, winning for only the second time in MLS this season.
That was their first away victory in the league this year, and it ended a 16-match domestic winless run for them as the visitors, with those last six ending in defeat.
With another victory this weekend, Caleb Porter would do something that no Revs manager has achieved since Bruce Arena in 2022, win consecutive away matches in MLS.
Despite winning last week, the Revs still have a lot of work to do if they are to dig themselves out of their current predicament, sitting dead-last in the Eastern Conference with seven points, seven fewer than DC United for the final playoff spot.
New England are the only side in the Eastern Conference this year who are currently in single digits regarding goals scored (seven), failing to net more than once in a single league contest thus far.
The Revs have not beaten a New York-based club away from home in this competition since their MLS record season in 2021, when they defeated the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena 3-2 in late July of that year.
Team News
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In their defeat to Miami, the Red Bulls were missing Ronald Donkor with a sore hip, Roald Mitchell and Serge Ngoma sat out due to knee issues, while Peter Stroud was unavailable as he is still recovering from ankle surgery.
Noah Eile is eligible to return from his red card suspension, Cory Burke may be available despite a sore foot and Denis Gjengaar played the final eight minutes plus stoppage time last week, after being questionable with an ankle injury.
Dante Vanzeir gave the Red Bulls the lead in their previous encounter, his second of the domestic campaign, while Emil Forsberg notched his third strike of 2024 in the latter stages.
Nacho Gil missed the last Revs match with a meniscus injury, DeJuan Jones sat out due to a minor knock, Jonathan Mensah did not feature due to a hamstring strain and Peyton Miller was sidelined because of a problem in his foot.
Brandon Bye sat out against Chicago as he is still recovering from a torn ACL, Noel Buck returned to the field for the Revs last week for the first time since sustaining a quad strain and Dylan Borrero has featured in consecutive contests as a substitute after tearing his ACL last season.
Tomas Chancalay netted his second of the MLS campaign in their victory versus the Fire, while Aljaz Ivacic made three stops, becoming the first Revs keeper to collect a clean sheet in his club debut since Cody Cropper in 2016.
New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Coronel; Duncan, D. Nealis, S. Nealis, Tolkin; Carmona, Amaya, Edelman, Forsberg; Vanzeir, Morgan
New England Revolution possible starting lineup:
Ivacic; Lima, Arreaga, Kessler, Spaulding; Polster, Harkes; Chancalay, C. Gil, Borrero; Vrioni
We say: New York Red Bulls 1-0 New England Revolution
While New England are getting some attacking pieces back, it might take those players some time to get back into game shape, while they are becoming a little too dependent on Carles Gil to create chances.
The Red Bulls are much sharper defensively at home, and we expect to see a determined side that will be out to prove that their second-half performance last week was just a minor hiccup.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
