For the first time in their history, the New York Red Bulls (3-4-1, 13 Points) will go to war with their arch rivals, New York City FC (1-3-5, 6 Points) in one of the most highly anticipated duels of the MLS weekend.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Red Bulls are definitively the better of these two teams, and it shouldn't be surprising that they are the favorites in this one by a comfortable margin. The Asian handicap is New York -0.5 (-156). You can get NYCFC at +470 on the three-way moneyline, but for a club with just one win in its infant stages, that's a tough sell to bet on.
The total is modest at 2.5, and there has been very little betting action as of this point on it. The over is just slightly shaded at -113.
KEY INJURIES
For a team which already has far too many injuries to deal with, the last thing NYCFC needed was Kwame Watson-Siriboe suspended for this duel. Alas, after his red card last week from two cautions, he'll be sitting this one out.
New York City is already dealing with injuries to George John, Tony Taylor, Javier Calle, Jason Hernandez and Adam Nemec, though at least the good news is that David Silva, the most notable name and most talented offensive threat on the team, is back in the saddle after missing a few games.
The Red Bulls are only without Sal Zizzo, who has a fractured leg which will cost him the next two months or so.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I enjoy the challenge. I think in New York, the fan base and the sporting landscape and the sporting culture is unique because the fans expect perfection. They expect success right away." – Red Bulls captain Dax McCarthy on the challenges which face both New York and NYCFC playing in the MLS together
RECENT FORM
New York City FC has dropped three straight matches to fall outside of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. Its most recent loss was a complete abomination of a match against Seattle, as the Sounders ran roughshod in a 3-1 victory which could have been significantly worse. City only has two results on the road in four matches, both of which were draws against Orlando City and Colorado.
The Red Bulls have stumbled upon some hard times as well. They were beaten last week by the Revolution. The optimist will say that New York at least has a point or better in six of its seven matches. The pessimist will say that it doesn't have a win in three consecutive duels.
TALKING TOTALS
City only has one goal scored in its last three matches, and that just isn't going to cut it. As a result, it shouldn't be surprising that three of its last four matches have failed to go past the total.
RBNY seems to be a budding team in terms of overs this year. Even though totals are split 2-2 in its last five games, New York has played every game this season to at least two goals.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
There is going to be too much pressure on New York City in this duel. The Red Bulls have continually pressed up the pitch this year, and the stats speak for themselves. They have averaged 6.6 corner kicks per match this year, the highest mark in the league, and even though they only have 42 shots on goal, they also have 25 offside penalties, which is also amongst the league leaders.
There have been too many times that we have seen NYCFC sloppy in defense, and if there is just one player who hangs back too far to allow men like Bradley Wright-Phillips free, this could be a long day for the fans clad in blue who crossed over the river to see this match on the road.
New York Red Bulls 3, New York City FC 0
BookMaker has MLS lines for every match of the season. The New York Red Bulls are lined as -156 moneyline favorites, while the total is set at 2.5 (over -113). You can make a futures bet and predict the champion, wager on head-to-head matchups or use BookMaker’s live betting feature to gamble while the match is happening.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The fixture between the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC is scheduled for Sunday, May 10, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. The match will be televised live on FOX Sports 1.
