It’s time to renew rivalries with our neighbors over the river.
The Hudson River Derby hits NYC once more on Sunday evening and excitement levels are building with each passing hour.
It’s Red Bulls’ only visit to Yankee Stadium in 2017 and so let’s find out what’s been going down with Jesse Marsch’s men since we last locked horns in June.
Key Stats
- NYCFC has won two of the last three games against the Red Bulls (1L), including beating their rivals at Red Bull Arena for the first time earlier this season (2-0 on June 24, 2017). The Red Bulls has won the first four meetings against NYCFC.
- Since Patrick Vieira took over, NYCFC average 2.1 goals per home game. Only two other teams that have played in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons average at least 2.0 goals per game at home.
- The Red Bulls have won their last three games on the road after dropping their previous six away games. The club has not won four-straight road games in regular season play since Aug. 15, 2001- April 12, 2002.
- NYCFC’s 4-0 loss to Toronto last weekend was the fifth time in franchise history that they have conceded four-or-more goals in a regular season game. Four of the five instances have come in games against Toronto or the Red Bulls (two games against each team).
- NYCFC have scored 24 second half goals this year, the most in the league. The Red Bulls are tied for second-most second half goals with 22.
- The Red Bulls have conceded 38% of their goals from set pieces this year, the highest percentage of any team in the league.
- Daniel Royer led the league with six goals in July. No other MLS player scored more than four goals in the month.
- NYCFC’s David Villa (55) and New York’s Bradley Wright-Phillips (52) are two of three MLS players with 50+ regular season goals since the start of the 2015 season.
- In the 11 games that Sean Davis has started for the Red Bulls this season, they average 2.0 goals for and 1.9 points per game. In the 10 games he has not, those numbers fall down to 1.0 goals for and 1.4 points per game.
- Andrea Pirlo completed 31 passes in the Toronto half last weekend, just the third time he completed more than 30 passes in the opposition half in a game this year.
READ: Major Keys to the Hudson River Derby
The Last Time
NYCFC emerged victorious both in the last corresponding fixture in the Bronx and in the last meeting between the teams.
On both occasions, the scoreline was 2-0, with the Boys in Blue winning the last Yankee Stadium meeting thanks to goals from Jack Harrison and David Villa.
Last Game
It was another emphatic victory for Red Bulls in their last game, making it four wins in a row as
Marsch’s men emerged as 4-0 victors over Montreal.
Recent Form
Red Bulls are one of the Eastern Conference’s most in-form sides at present, winning their last four games in emphatic style.
Before beating Montreal 4-0 last time out, following up on 3-0 and 5-1 wins against Minnesota and San Jose respectively, so they are certainly not to be taken lightly.
READ: A-Z of the Hudson River Derby
All-Time Series
Red Bulls hold the advantage with a 5-2-0 record through seven MLS meetings but it’s worth keeping in mind that NYCFC have won two of the last three Hudson River Derby games.
It’s beautifully poised going into this eighth showdown…
