New York Red Bulls vs Inter Miami

Harrison’s Red Bull Arena sets the stage for a heavyweight Major League Soccer clash between the New York Red Bulls and Inter Miami.

After a three-game unbeaten start to the new MLS season (W2, D1), New York suffered their first loss last time out, succumbing to a 3-0 defeat at reigning holders Columbus Crew. It was their second scoring blank across the opening four rounds, though they can draw confidence from winning the other two matches by an identical 2-1 scoreline. Interestingly, both victories saw the Red Bull outfit score on either side of halftime, with their second goal on both occasions coming inside the first 15 minutes of the second half. Another free-flowing attacking game is unlikely to be in store, considering Sandro Schwarz’s men have only scored once in their last two MLS fixtures against Inter Miami (D1, L1).

A lack of consistency has been evident during Inter Miami’s early season, with Gerardo Martino’s side alternating between winning (3) and not (D1, L1) across their first five MLS outings. Much of Inter’s success in the opening exchanges has relied on ex-Barcelona star Luis Suarez, who is the division’s joint-best scorer with four goals. Suarez’s second-half brace inspired the Herons to a landslide 3-1 victory at DC United last time out. The Uruguayan will have to replicate that performance if his team is to beat New York in back-to-back matches for the first time in their relatively short MLS history, not least because his old friend Lionel Messi is unavailable due to injury. Martino’s backline must try to hold up their end of the bargain after failing to keep a clean sheet on their last seven MLS travels.