Red Bull New York vs. New York City FC: What to know for Walmart Saturday Showdown

The Hudson River Derby resumes when Red Bull New York host arch-rivals New York City FC for Matchday 14’s Walmart Saturday Showdown.

• Sports Illustrated Stadium | Harrison, New Jersey

• sixth in Eastern Conference
• 18 factors, 5W-5L-3D

Winners of two straight, the Red Bulls are again in Eastern Conference rivalry this season after seeing their MLS-record, 15-year Audi MLS Cup Playoffs streak finish in 2025.

They’re doing it with a youth-heavy squad, highlighted by rising striker Julian Hall. The 18-year-old homegrown grew to become the youngest player in league history to rating a hat trick on Wednesday’s 3-2 home win over the Columbus Crew.

Fellow youngsters Adri Mehmeti and Matthew Dos Santos have additionally stood out beneath first-year head coach and US Soccer legend Michael Bradley.

• Julian Hall: Hall’s midweek hat trick elevated him to 9g/2a on the season, straight into the Golden Boot offered by Audi race.
• Adri Mehmeti: Mehmeti is growing into one of many league’s high midfielders, with high-profile golf equipment reportedly scouting the 17-year-old US youth worldwide.
• Emil Forsberg: The Swedish star and German Bundesliga alum has 1g/5g in his third season as RBNY captain.
• Jorge Ruvalcaba: The Mexican-American winger has 4 targets in his debut MLS season; he arrived in February from LIGA MX aspect Pumas UNAM.
• Cade Cowell: The San Jose Earthquakes product is one other offseason LIGA MX arrival, producing 1g/5g whereas on mortgage from Chivas de Guadalajara.

With back-to-back three-goal RBNY performances, Bradley will probably repeat the attacking trio of Hall-Ruvalcaba-Cowell up high.

• fifth in Eastern Conference
• 18 factors, 5W-5L-3D

NYCFC additionally entered Saturday’s derby driving a two-game successful streak.

Their most up-to-date triumph got here in Wednesday’s 1-0 victory at Charlotte F.C.with Nicolás Fernández Mercau scoring the decisive purpose. The Argentine ahead has a club-best 9g/3a in his first full season with NYCFC.

After reaching the 2025 Eastern Conference Final, the Cityzens are trying to go one step additional in yr two beneath head coach Pascal Jansen.

• Matt Freese: The USMNT goalkeeper has posted two straight clear sheets as he seems to be to safe the beginning job at this summer season’s 2026 FIFA World Cup.
• Nicolás Fernández Mercau: With 12g/4a in 24 regular-season begins, Fernández Mercau has rapidly turn into one of many league’s high attackers.
• Maxi Moralez: The legendary NYCFC playmaker is displaying no indicators of slowing down at age 39, thanks to a team-high six assists this season.
• Hannes Wolf: A former Austrian youth worldwide, Wolf scored his first profession hat trick in final weekend’s 3-0 win over the Columbus Crew.
• Thiago Martins: The membership captain and 2024 MLS All-Star proceed to anchor NYCFC’s backline. He not too long ago surpassed 150 all-time appearances for the membership.

After a seven-game winless streak, NYCFC have rattled off two straight wins. With issues going properly and a derby developing, do not count on Jansen to experiment a lot (if in any respect).

The Hudson River Derby appears a digital toss-up, with the Red Bulls and NYCFC every netting about 40% of the market. Notably, these sides have not settled for a draw for the reason that 2023 season.

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Market insights shared are present as of Thursday, May 14 at 1:30 pm ET.

Red Bull have home-field benefit and a historic edge over their cross-city rivals, posting a 16W-13L-4D file in 33 matches throughout all competitions.

However, NYCFC have current historical past on their aspect. They’ve gained the final three derbies, together with final month’s 3-1 victory within the US Open Cup.