- New York form: New York Red Bulls have won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five matches.
- Nashville form: Nashville SC have won one, drawn one and lost three of their last five matches.
- Odds: Nashville SC are slightly favoured at 2.28 while the Red Bulls are 2.7 with the draw 3.8.
Nashville could nick this one in New Jersey
Nashville SC should have enough to edge this one at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Wednesday in a game that should be a little more interesting than the odds make it look.
Ibrahim Sekagya took charge of New York Red Bulls on 2nd July 2022 and has maintained a similar style to the club's trademark pressing game that was in full flow prior to his appointment. They press high up, with a vertical tempo that has them looking to hunt turnovers in dangerous places.
BJ Callaghan has been in charge of Nashville SC since 22 July 2024 and appears to have developed a more pragmatic and adaptable team that can compact the pitch and press selectively to suffocate opponents and protect the transitions.
Hosts are a mixed bag
Tactical contrast
So the contrast between the two should make for a spicy game on Wednesday with New York Red Bulls looking to create chaos in the Nashville defence while the visitors look to slow the game and frustrate the hosts.
Form and defence
The Red Bulls are a bit of a mixed bag, so it is hard to put too much faith in their 2-0 home victory over Orlando City as evidence of a clear direction of travel. They are a little bit of an up and down team at the moment.
A similar story can be told about Nashville's away results – which is why we're not going to back them to win outright – but they have at least kept things tighter on the road with only five goals conceded in four games.
Red Bulls can make this lively
The last three Red Bulls results look more positive. They lost 3-0 away to Philadelphia Union, then were beaten 2-0 at home by Charlotte FC and followed that up with a 2-0 home win over Orlando City. So the team can swing from a bit wobbly to sharp.
- We can't be sure which way they will go, but Nashville are in mixed-to-strong form and marginally the better team, so they get our vote to win.
- But the odds on goals are also attractive in this game with Over 2.5 at 1.5 and Both Teams to Score: Yes at 1.42, which also suits a clash between two different styles and two teams that look capable of making this game lively.
- Sam Surridge is Nashville's man in the goals, top of the MLS 2026 charts with 11 strikes in 12 appearances, so the Nashville SC are not a one-dimensional unit either.
