Preview: New York Red Bulls vs Philadelphia Union - prediction, team news, lineups

Three days after their US Open Cup quarter-final clash, the New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union will meet again in MLS action Saturday, this time, though, at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

A dramatic 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake has the Red Bulls sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference, while the Union continue to lead the Supporters’ Shield standings even though they played to a 1-1 draw with Toronto last weekend.

Match preview

Despite a slow start in New Jersey in their previous match, the Red Bulls managed to turn things around, scoring two second-half goals to win and put themselves right back into the playoff conversation.

Heading into this weekend, they are only below that post-season line on goal difference, with that 1-0 defeat to the Chicago Fire in July looming large at the moment, though their sole focus will be on the domestic campaign after losing 3-2 to Philly in the US Open Cup on Wednesday.

Sandro Schwarz’s team have points in seven of their previous eight home matches in this competition, dropping points in only two of those instances.

Four times in MLS this year, this team have conceded the opening goal at Sports Illustrated Stadium and managed to come away with points, including victories in two of those previous three outings.

With a win on Saturday, New York would reach the double-digit mark for home triumphs in MLS for the first time since the 2018 campaign, when they earned 14 victories in Harrison.

The Red Bulls are unbeaten in the 2025 regular season when netting multiple goals on home soil, doing so on 10 occasions thus far.

Up by one heading into stoppage time, the Union suffered a rare breakdown in concentration last week, dropping points at home for the first time since May.

While they remain first overall, the gap is not as big, as Bradley Carnell’s team are just two points above FC Cincinnati and San Diego in the Supporters’ Shield standings.

Three of their next four league fixtures take place outside of Chester, where they are winless in their last three matches, collecting just a single point during that run.

Finding the back of the net outside Subaru Park has not been easy for them as they have scored a goal or fewer in five straight domestic away games.

In two of their last three league contests, they have failed to win when leading at the half, dropping eight points in that position so far this year.

Philly have yet to lose a regular season encounter this decade against the Red Bulls, without a goal conceded in those last three meetings, including a 2-0 win in this exact fixture a year ago.

New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer form:

New York Red Bulls form (all competitions):

Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer form:

Philadelphia Union form (all competitions):

Team News

In their comeback victory over RSL, Lewis Morgan sat out for the Red Bulls due to a thigh strain, Cameron Harper was sidelined because of a knee injury, while Kyle Duncan will miss this match after being red-carded in the late stages last week.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored a second-half brace to bring them back from a goal down, converting a 99th-minute penalty for the win after missing one minutes earlier.

Last weekend, the Union were without Ian Glavinovich, who had a knee issue, while another yellow card in that match means that Jakob Glesnes will have to sit out on Saturday.

Indiana Vassilev scored after just four minutes against the Reds a week ago, his third of the campaign in what is his first season in Philly.

New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:

Coronel; D. Nealis, S. Nealis, Hack, Edwards; Donkor, Edelman; Stroud, Forsberg, Sofo; Choupo-Moting

Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:

Blake; Harriel, Mbaizo, Makhanya, Wagner; Bueno, Jacques; Vassilev, Uhre, Q. Sullivan; Baribo

We say: New York Red Bulls 1-0 Philadelphia Union

When their backs are against the wall, the Red Bulls always seem to thrive, and we believe their urgency level will give them an edge against a strong all-around unit in Philly.

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