The Hudson River Derby between New York City FC (NYC) and the New York Red Bulls (RBNY) is one of Major League Soccer’s most exciting derbies, with both sides boasting legions of fans and some of the league’s most star-studded of squads.
The meetings between the two teams in the city that never sleeps have always been a special occasion, however, the upcoming Hudson River Derby in this year’s MLS might just take this to another level.
With plenty of dramatic storylines on the cards, join us at SinkorSwimSports for your Red Bulls vs. City guide and experience all the MLS betting excitement.
When And Where Is The Latest Hudson River Derby?
- Matchday: 29
- Date: October 17th
- Location: Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
- Last Result: New York Red Bulls 1 – 1 New York City FC
New York Red Bulls Preview – In Transition, But On The Hunt
The New York Red Bulls have been in the wilderness over the past couple of seasons in the MLS, finishing in 12th and 13th in the overall league table in the last two years. It’s fair to say that the club has been in limbo since the loss of head coach Jesse Marsch, who has since gone on to manage the likes of Red Bull Salzburg and RB Leipzig in Europe, and club legend Bradley Wright-Phillips.
With only two players over the age of 30 in their current squad, the Red Bulls are in the midst of a transitional period in their history but have still managed to keep themselves in the running for a playoff spot so far this campaign, sitting in 9th in the Eastern Conference with a 9-11-7 record, leaving them six points off the playoffs first round.
What should give the Red Bulls faithful a lot of encouragement for the upcoming derby and the remainder of the season is how this young crop of players has recovered from a relatively slow start to the campaign. The Red Bulls won six of their first twenty games this season, losing 10, but have since recovered and have only lost once in their past seven.
New York City FC Preview – Limping Over The Line
On the flip side, New York City have been reliant on their respectable start to the season keeping them in the playoffs spots, with their current form being a major cause for concern for the Boys in Blue.
Former Celtic head coach Ronny Delia took over the management of NYC ahead of the 2020 campaign with the club coming off the back of an impressive 2019 where they ended the season 1st in the Eastern Conference and 2nd overall. But whilst the blue half of New York have always managed to keep themselves competitive under Delia, there hasn’t been the same level of ruthlessness present in the club since the Norwegian arrived, with the club finishing 7th overall last season and currently sat 10th in 2021.
NYC only lost four of their first eighteen games this season, but have slumped since then and went through the entirety of September with just one win, two ties, and four losses, conceding 13 times and registering no clean sheets in that time alone.
However, New York City has been able to step it up against some of the top sides in the league so far this campaign, beating the likes of Orlando City, DC United, and even league leaders New England Revolution, which should give the Blues faithful some encouragement heading into derby day.
Who Should You Back In The New York Red Bulls vs. New York City FC Game?
Heading into the second Hudson River Derby of the season, both sides have reasons to feel confident of getting a good result, as well as a plethora of reasons why they might not be.
The earlier fixture between the two clubs produced a 1-1 tie at the Red Bull Arena, and it was the blue side of New York who felt they had the better of the game, bemoaning some pretty controversial refereeing decisions as the reason for being pegged back on the night.
However, it is Gerhard Struber’s Red Bulls that are heading into this latest edition of the rivalry as favourites in most MLS betting tips, with the contrasting forms of both sides being the crucial factor in the betting markets for the game.
With just six points separating the two sides on either side of this season’s postseason playoff spots, the ramifications for a win for either side could be huge in not only making their season but also potentially derailing their nearest rivals in the process. For New York City FC to slip out of the postseason after the start to the season they had would have sounded ludicrous at the time, however, there’s something shaky about Delia’s coaching of the team that leads us to think that a re-energised Red Bulls team at home could be preparing to take advantage of on October 17th.
Red Bulls, James Anderson and Christian Pulisic enthusiast. Still unsure how Wes Brown wrangled himself a Champions League medal – Premier League, Cricket and Major League Soccer contributor at SinkorSwimSports.