Injuries are really starting to catch up with the New York Red Bulls at a bad time. They're hanging in there at the moment, but recent form definitely is starting to tell a tale of a team that could struggle come playoff time in just a few short weeks. A home match against the New England Revolution will be expected to be won, but the task is still fairly tall in spite of the 10-point separation between these clubs heading into the weekend.
At 2:30 p.m. ET, tune into ESPN for live television coverage of this MLS match on Sunday, August 28, 2016, at Red Bull Arena.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
New York Red Bulls -190
New England Revolution +500
Draw +260
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
Goals shouldn't be in short supply on Sunday afternoon in this Derby, and that total of 3 with -115 vig on the over certainly tells that tale.
The Red Bulls are -190 favorites, and though we don't have a problem with them being chalks in this match, their lineup which is going to be on the field because of the injury woes won't resemble that of a team that is favored by this much.
Key Injuries
The Red Bulls are incredibly thin at the back at the moment, and it doesn't look like help is coming back any time soon. Gideon Baah and Connor Lade are both out for the season, and Damien Perrinelle is at least three or four weeks away from returning from his ankle injury. The real blow though, is the fractured leg of Dax McCarty, a knock which will cost him the entire month of August and likely much of September, too.
The Revs have a longer injury list than New York does, but that doesn't mean the world is coming to an end. Je-Vaughn Watson and Jose Goncalves are both key cogs in this lineup. Both are dinged up and are officially listed as questionable. Jordan McCrary is out, while Donnie Smith has been out of practice all week long. Keep an eye on Femi Hollinger-Janzen as well, a midfielder that hasn't been on the pitch at all this week.
Recent Form
For our money, the Red Bulls are starting to show some flaws. Yes, they haven't lost a match since July 3, a span of 10 straight positive results in that stretch, but a 2-2 draw with D.C. United last week felt like it was merely hung onto, and the club has had to really scratch and claw to get single points out of matches that should have resulted in three.
It's not like the Revolution are in great form either. They haven't scored in three straight matches and have just one point to show for their work in that span. If they aren't planning on scoring in games in August, they'll be sitting at home for the postseason for sure.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Two things are worth remembering about this match.
1: New England is running out of time to make a playoff push and enters this match two points behind D.C. United for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
2: The wheels are going to fall off of New York at some point eventually.
Still, New England did win the first meeting of these two clubs this season, and there is still a lot of potential here with Kei Kamara joining Lee Nguyen in the scoring department. If the Revs can just manage to get one in past Luis Robles, a man who has had to see far too much activity over the course of these last couple weeks, that could ultimately be enough to see off the Red Bulls and to get three somewhat shocking points out of this fixture.
MLS Odds: New England 1, New York 0
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!
