📍Red Bull Arena for the Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs
Will @fccincinnati cement their place in the Eastern Conference Semifinals or can @NewYorkRedBulls force Match 3?
Find out at 7pm ET on #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/g7xbm98yuC pic.twitter.com/2d9aHhXWDB
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 4, 2023
New York Red Bulls vs FC Cincinnati Predictions and Best Odds for Saturday
New York Red Bulls Dark Horses
The New York Red Bulls finished on a hot streak of form riding in to their playoff race. When the pressure was applied, Red Bulls responded with a resounding four wins in their last five earning them the 8th seed and a playoff berth. They showed out against an inexperienced Charlotte FC and are now up against Supporters’ Shield winning FC Cincinnati. The Red Bulls will be hosting Cincinnati in their second game of three after their first match loss on the road against Cincinnati. A loss here at home against Cincinnati will spell the end of the Red Bulls playoff race.
The Orange and Blue Sweep Tonight
FC Cincinnati came in to the series as the favored side to advance. Additionally, they are favored to win the whole thing in the eyes of many sportsbooks. Of all the teams, they have proven to be a formidable force. The side had clinched their Supporters Shield with three regular season games left in their season and prior to that had clinched their playoff berth as early as August 30th- a mere month and half before the season was set to conclude. They are in a prime position to sweep the New York Red Bulls here following their 3-0 victory in the first leg of their three leg series. Cincinnati went into the prior game with much more rest than the Red Bulls who had played midweek against Charlotte FC in a wild card “winner goes home” game. Despite losing important pieces to their defense in both Nick Hagglund and Santiago Arias, the depth for Cincinnati stepped up (as they have the entire season) and helped ensure the victory.
READ MORE: Analysis: FC Cincinnati Wins Supporters’ Shield at BMO Field
Lucho's coming through 😮💨
Vote @LuchoAcosta94 for MLS Goal of the Year: https://t.co/xsSn40XjEc pic.twitter.com/bPOzy3kP1Y
— S – FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) November 3, 2023
Recent Head to Head
The New York Red Bulls and FC Cincinnati have met 15 times with the Red Bulls claiming six of those games, Cincinnati claiming four, and both sides coming away with draws five times. Cincinnati recently beat New York at home in a thrilling 3-0 victory. Looking at the game and the nature of the goals, the Red Bulls have only themselves to blame for the result of the game. Costly defensive mistakes early in the game allowed for Cincinnati to play their game and finish off the eighth seed. Luckily for the Red Bulls, in the current format of the playoffs this year, they have a chance to make amends at home and push for a plucky road win getting another crack at Cincy’s fortress of a home: TQL Stadium. Cincinnati were near perfect in the MLS regular season with a record of 13-2-2. One of those two losses came against none other than the New York Red Bulls.
READ MORE: Playoff Preview: RBNY, FCC Face Off in a Best-of-Three Series
Prediction and Picks
Current Odds:
The current odds as of right now is moneyline with regular time being the New York Red Bulls winning being higher at +105, a draw being +240, and FC Cincinnati winning being +250. The draw no bet has the Red Bulls at -200 while Cincinnati is at +160. However, the chances to advance to the MLS Cup Playoffs are higher for Cincinnati to advance with a -380, while the Red Bulls are at a +280 chances of advancing in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Photo Credit: Antonia Geiger of Last Word on Soccer on October 29, 2023.
