With apologies to their new-found rivalry against New York City FC, it's clear that the New York Red Bulls would love to beat D.C. United more than any other team in the MLS. The chance to do it once again will come up on Sunday in one of the biggest games on the MLS docket.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Red Bulls are almost certainly going to be short favorites in this match, though the oddsmakers are going to have to be concerned just a bit that they are playing twice this week to help make up the four matches they have in hand over United.
Even though D.C. United enters this week atop the Eastern Conference with 44 points, New York actually has more points per game on average at 1.7 than the Red and Blacks have at 1.63.
KEY INJURIES
D.C. United's most recent injury woe came when Fabian Espindola was carted off two weeks ago. Fortunately, he was only diagnosed with a knee sprain instead of something more serious. His initial prognosis was that he would return in two weeks, but we aren't sure he'll be back on the field in this fixture.
Espindola is one of the four men on this team with more than two goals this season.
The Red Bulls are being tested right now in the back. Chris Duvall, Kemar Lawrence and Ronald Zubar are all out with various lower body injuries. To NYRB's credit, the team has asserted itself well in the absence of all of the defenders, but the injuries are still a concern in weeks like this with two MLS matches.
Damien Perrinelle has been suspended for this fixture for the Red Bulls as well for dangerous play.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's a testament to the type of team we're trying to build here and the cohesiveness we're trying to implement. I think the coaching staff has done a good job of getting our mindset and our mentality to the point where no matter where we go or no matter who is in, whether it's guys that have started all year or guys that haven't seen many minutes, we know exactly how we're going to play." – New York captain Dax McCarty on the strong defensive effort the Red Bulls have put forth this year even with all of their injury woes
RECENT FORM
The Red Bulls are 5-1-0 in their last six matches heading into their midweek duel with Chicago, a fixture which truly should be won as well even though the clash is on the road. They have scored at least one goal in all but two games this year, yet thanks to the team's defense, it has a 13-9-2 mark for under bettors this year.
D.C. United has suddenly hit the skids with consecutive losses. The latter of those losses to San Jose was completely inexcusable for the Eastern Conference leaders.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
D.C. United is in bad need right now of a goal to just lift the team's performance. It's been a while since the offense and the defense put it all together.
In this case, we don't believe there is going to be anything separating these two. Perhaps both get one in the back of the net, but in the end, both teams not really having that legitimate No. 10 to put in the center of the pitch with the sole job of going and getting big time goals is going to end up costing both the possibility of two extra points. A split of the spoils though, won't be the end of the world for either team.
New York 1, D.C. United 1
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