Separated by just one point in the middle of the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference standings, New York Red Bulls and Charlotte FC will do battle at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday.
The two teams both picked up victories at the weekend, sitting ninth and eighth respectively as a result.
Match preview
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New York Red Bulls return to Red Bull Arena on Wednesday in search of back-to-back MLS wins for the first time this season, having moved within touching distance of the top seven at the weekend after a mixed start to their campaign.
After a seventh-placed Conference finish last time around, followed by a run all the way to the MLS Cup final in which they fell just short against Los Angeles Galaxy in December, the Red Bulls currently find themselves 10th having earned 21 points from their first 15 outings in 2025.
Sandro Schwarz's side would win just five of their first 14 games, including a 7-0 thrashing of Los Angeles Galaxy in mid-May, but that would be followed by consecutive 2-1 and 2-0 defeats to Nashville SC and city rivals New York City FC, leaving them on 18 points from 14 attempts.
Then on the back of a penalty shootout triumph over FC Dallas to progress to the US Open Cup quarter-finals after a 2-2 draw, Schwarz's men visited DC United on Saturday and returned to winning ways in the league, prevailing in a 2-0 triumph thanks to Cameron Harper's first-half opener and Mohammed Sofo's late goal.
Now sitting ninth in the Eastern Conference, one point behind their visitors, two behind seventh-placed Inter Miami and three behind sixth-placed New York City FC, New York Red Bulls will aim to make it three straight wins in all competitions to climb into the top seven this week.
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Their visitors, meanwhile, head to Red Bull Arena also in search of a second straight victory to crash the top seven, having ended a rut at the weekend.
Charlotte FC enjoyed a pleasing start to their second season under the management of Dean Smith, earning 19 points from their first nine outings courtesy of six wins alongside just two defeats.
That strong opening run would come to an end, though, as the Crown went on to suffer five straight league defeats between late April and mid-May, conceding 14 goals in those games and only scoring five.
Then on the back of a US Open Cup penalty shootout defeat to DC United in the round of 16, Smith's men returned to league action at home to Columbus Crew at the weekend and bounced back to winning ways, as a Patrick Agyemang brace had them 2-1 up in the first half and Pep Biel fired them to a 3-2 triumph in the second half.
Now with renewed confidence in the camp having ended their losing run, Charlotte FC will look to add another three points to their tally on Wednesday and move back towards the Conference's frontrunners.
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Team News
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New York Red Bulls could be unchanged from last week's win over DC United, with Roald Mitchell, Dylan Nealis, Felipe Carballo and Lewis Morgan remaining sidelined by injuries.
Sandro Schwarz could make a change in the attack, though, with Mohammed Sofo hoping to earn a starting spot after coming off the bench to score his fifth of the season in that game, while Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting will continue to lead the line having netted seven goals in 15 MLS appearances so far this term.
Cameron Harper and captain Emil Forsberg remain key men in support of the front man, while Peter Stroud and Daniel Edelman should continue their partnership in the middle of a 4-2-3-1 setup.
Charlotte FC may also look to go unchanged after their return to winning ways at the weekend, with defender Tim Ream again set to miss out through injury alongside Jahlane Forbes, Idan Toklomati, Souleyman Doumbia, Brandon Cambridge, Nathan Byrne and Nimfasha Berchimas.
Patrick Agyemang will continue to lead the attack, having moved onto seven goals for the season with his brace in Saturday's victory, while Wilfried Zaha is a danger man on the wing.
Liel Abada and Kerwin Vargas will compete for the final attacking spot, while Pep Biel offers further support from the midfield alongside Brandt Bronico and Ashley Westwood, having contributed four goals and seven assists in 14 MLS games so far this term.
New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Coronel; Duncan, Hack, Parker, Valencia; Stroud, Edelman; Harper, Forsberg, Sofo; Choupo-Moting
Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Scardina, Malanda, Privett, Marshall-Rutty; Biel, Westwood, Bronico; Vargas, Agyemang, Zaha
We say: New York Red Bulls 2-1 Charlotte FC
Thursday's game should be a competitive one with both sides hoping to kick on after recent returns to winning ways, and we give a slight edge to the hosts to make it three straight wins across all competitions at Red Bull Arena.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
