New York Red Bulls vs Charlotte FC - prediction, team news, lineups

Returning to MLS enactment for the 2nd clip since the mid-season break, New York Red Bulls invited Charlotte FC to Sports Illustrated Stadium connected Saturday for the 2 sides' 17th league lucifer of the campaign.

The Red Bulls' archetypal MLS outing successful astir 2 months ended successful a disappointing 3-1 decision to Philadelphia, portion Charlotte surrendered a two-goal pb successful a 2-2 location gully against Atlanta United.

Match preview

Three-time Supporters' Shield winners New York person endured a hard spell successful caller seasons aft finishing 18th wide past year, and they person yet to marque important advancement during the 2026 campaign.

Michael Bradley's broadside person collected six wins, 4 draws and six defeats from their opening 16 league matches, leaving them 17th successful the wide standings with 22 points.

Despite their inconsistent start, determination is inactive plentifulness of clip for the Red Bulls to ascent the table, with conscionable 4 points separating them from the apical six successful what remains a tightly contested MLS season.

Their signifier earlier the World Cup interruption surely offered encouragement, arsenic New York won 3 and drew 1 of their last 4 league fixtures, including an awesome 3-1 distant triumph implicit high-flying Chicago Fire.

Defensive issues proceed to undermine their progress, however, with Bradley's men failing to support a cleanable expanse during that unbeaten tally and conceding 35 league goals overall, 1 of the poorest antiaircraft records successful MLS.

Charlotte, meanwhile, question to the Big Apple level connected points with their hosts but sitting 3 places higher acknowledgment to a superior extremity quality aft signaling 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 decision crossed their erstwhile 5 league outings.

Dean Smith's broadside looked acceptable to marque a winning instrumentality pursuing the World Cup interruption aft racing into a 2-0 half-time pb against Atlanta, lone to concede doubly aft the interval and settee for a frustrating point.

Saturday volition people an important milestone for Smith arsenic helium takes complaint of Charlotte for the 100th time, having recorded 42 wins, 21 draws and 36 defeats crossed his opening 99 matches with the Crown.

His finest run came successful 2025, erstwhile helium guided Charlotte to a nine grounds 4th spot decorativeness successful the Eastern Conference, though they person been incapable to physique connected that occurrence this play and presently beryllium seventh, 17 points down leaders Nashville.

The visitors volition besides gully assurance from the information they dismantled the Red Bulls 6-1 erstwhile the sides met earlier this play backmost successful March, though this clash should beryllium acold much evenly balanced fixed the information some sides are level connected points heading into the weekend.

New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer form:

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Charlotte FC Major League Soccer form:

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Team News

Bradley's broadside person reported nary caller wounded concerns pursuing the decision to Philadelphia, meaning helium has the luxury of naming an unchanged side.

After different disappointing antiaircraft display, though, changes could beryllium likely. 

Cade Cowell scored New York's lone extremity successful Pennsylvania and is expected to support his spot successful attack, portion skipper Emil Forsberg, who registered his 4th assistance of the season, volition again beryllium the originative focal point.

Anthony Marcucci remains sidelined with the ACL wounded that has kept him retired for astir a year, truthful erstwhile Cardiff City goalkeeper Ethan Horvath volition proceed betwixt the posts, portion Rafael Mosquera is besides unavailable due to the fact that of a thigh problem.

Charlotte, meanwhile, person been dealt a treble wounded setback aft some Kerwin Vargas and Liel Abada were forced disconnected against Atlanta.

The brace were Charlotte's goalscorers successful that contest, leaving Tyger Smalls and Rodolfo Aloko arsenic the starring candidates to regenerate them successful the starting lineup.

New York Red Bulls imaginable starting lineup:

Horvath; Marshall-Rutty, Che, Nealis, Dos Santos; Donkor, Mehmeti, Forsberg; Cowell, Hall, Ruvalcaba

Charlotte FC imaginable starting lineup:

Kahlina; Byrne, Morrison, Ream, Toffolo; Smalls, Westwood, De La Torre, Aloko; Biel, Goodwin

We say: New York Red Bulls 2-2 Charlotte FC

Both sides are inactive readjusting aft the lengthy mid-season break, and different evenly contested brushwood looks likely.

New York person shown signs of betterment contempt their antiaircraft woes, portion Charlotte proceed to beryllium hard to beat, truthful we expect an entertaining gully with some teams uncovering the backmost of the net.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.