Preview: New York City FC vs. Philadelphia Union - prediction, team news, lineups

Philadelphia Union end the regular Major League Soccer season with a trip to New York City FC on Sunday.

Both clubs have already confirmed their places in the end of season playoffs, with the Union sitting second in the Eastern Conference and NYCFC three points behind in fourth.

Match preview

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Philadelphia Union, who won the MLS Supporters' Shield last season, are preparing for their fourth playoff campaign in the last five seasons.

A win at the Yankee Stadium would secure them second spot in the Eastern Conference or a draw would be enough if Nashville fail to beat New York Red Bulls.

Jim Curtin's team secured a comfortable 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati last weekend with goals from Daniel Gazdag and Paxten Aaronson either side of half time.

It means that the Union have lost just one of their last 10 matches, but the majority of their points this season have come on home turf.

The Pennsylvania-based side have only won only won three of their 15 away games in 2021, recording just one win in their last 13 matches on the road.

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New York City have lost only three out of 16 games at the Yankee Stadium this season and have scored the most home goals across both conferences (36).

This will be the club's sixth consecutive season in the playoffs, but they have never made it past the quarter-finals.

Ronny Deila's side head into 'Decision Day' in good form, winning their last three matches; they have not achieved four successive victories all season.

Valentin Castellanos scored twice and also got an assist as NYCFC beat Inter Miami 3-1 last weekend and another victory would secure them a home tie in the first round of the playoffs.

Alejandro Bedoya scored the only goal of the game as Philadelphia Union won 1-0 in the two sides' last meeting in August, only their second victory in their last seven encounters.

Team News

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New York City are still without Nicolas Acevedo, Gudmundur Thorarinsson, Anton Tinnerholm and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi who are all sidelined through injury.

With a playoff place secured, Deila may give opportunities to fringe players, such as Talles Magno, who came off the bench to score against Inter Miami last weekend.

Valentin Castellanos's 18 goals this year are the most by an NYCFC player in a single season other than David Villa.

Jamiro Monteiro is fit to return for Philadelphia Union after missing the win over Cincinnati, but he is not guaranteed a starting spot after his replacement on the left wing, Paxten Aaronson, found the back of the net.

Fellow forwards Sergio Santos and Cory Burke are not quite ready to feature on Sunday but could be back available for the playoffs.

Daniel Gazdag has three goals and one assist in his last four appearances, having failed to register a goal contribution in his previous nine matches.

New York City FC possible starting lineup:

Johnson; Sands, Chanot, Callens, Amundsen; Morales, Parks; Medina, Moralez, Rodriguez; Castellanos

Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:

Blake; Mbaizo, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner; Bedoya, Martinez, McGlynn; Gazdag, Przybyllko, Aaronson

We say: New York City FC 2-2 Philadelphia Union

Although the pressure is off slightly in this game, both teams will still be keen to finish as high as possible in the table and not head into the playoffs with a defeat. We think it will be an entertaining draw at the Yankee Stadium.