Red Bull New York will have an opportunity to serve revenge to Hudson River Derby rivals New York City FC on Saturday night at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Diehard Red Bull supporters who show up every week and congregate in the parking lot hours before matches are hoping to see a much different result this time around.
Red Bull New York Seek Redemption After Cup Defeat
In their last meeting, NYCFC picked apart the Red Bulls with three identical set-piece goals to advance to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals.
“We certainly apologize to our fans for losing a big derby cup game,” head coach Michael Bradley said after the Red Bulls were eliminated in a 3-1 defeat on April 29.
Lately, the Red Bulls have been on the upswing after earning consecutive MLS victories over Chicago Fire FC and the Columbus Crew.
If the sixth-place Red Bulls are able to notch a win on Saturday, they would leapfrog fifth-place NYCFC in the Eastern Conference standings as both clubs enter the weekend even on 18 points.
“We’re excited,” Bradley said during Friday’s press conference. “It’s a really big game. You know, for every club around the world, there are games that ultimately mean a little bit more and count for a little bit more with our fans. Obviously, we had the Open Cup match against them a few weeks ago. We felt like we played in a lot of ways a good game, but on the night, let them get the better of us with a few set pieces.”
Bradley has drilled his players with knowledge and tactical advice on the training pitch and film room.
“We’ve spent good time over the last day or two looking at ourselves over the last few games, looking back at bits and pieces of that Cup game and making sure that we are prepared in every way,” he said.
Michael Bradley Reinforces Tactical Identity Ahead of Derby
There was a bit more counterpunching in the Red Bulls’ victories over Chicago and Columbus.
“The game can be on our terms when we don’t have the ball, and we want to be a team that is a complete team, that understands how to put the game on our terms in every way,” Bradley explained.
“We want to be a team that has the ball, that plays in the other team’s half, that finds long periods to push the opponent back and really play the game in that part of the field, but we also want to be a team that against the ball is aggressive and hard to play against and understands the moments where we can be very aggressive with our pressing and win balls in really good spots, but also at the same time understands how to control other situations when we need to be a little bit more organized or a little bit more compact for a period of time. We make sure that there are no easy plays and that we are quickly able to turn that into aggressive closing down, aggressive pressing, and ultimately having the ball back again.”
In Bradley’s words, it was more about making subtle tweaks to his high-energy, counter-pressing system than overreacting after the Red Bulls were eliminated in the U.S. Open Cup and lost two consecutive MLS matches prior to the club’s current two-match winning streak.
“One of the best parts about the way that we play and our football ideas and the way that we go about it is ultimately nothing changes based on the opponent,” he stated.
“We have our ideas, we want to step on the field and put the game on our terms in every single way. Obviously, we have full respect for the opponent, and we do the absolute best job that we can to make sure that we give them a really clear idea of what the game will look like and feel like. But ultimately, when that whistle blows, we want to play our football, and we want to put the game on our terms.”
Defender Justin Che feels the confidence flowing. He and his teammates are ready to do everything possible to keep the winning run going.
“It’s big time to go into a derby with confidence,” Che said. “Everyone’s feeling good, so hopefully we can get another one this weekend.”
Most recently, NYCFC earned a 1-0 victory away to Charlotte FC. The Pigeons will look to continue their stingy ways, but Red Bull forward Julian Hall is in electric form and was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday for Matchday 13 after recording a hat trick against Columbus.
Attacking Trio of Hall, Cowell and Ruvalcaba Driving Red Bulls’ Form
The attacking trident of Hall, Cade Cowell and Jorge Ruvalcaba is striking up tremendous chemistry and throwing defenders off balance with their pace and trickery.
“I’ve said it before in past interviews, he’s (Cade Cowell) set me up for so many goals,” Hall said. “Playing with someone like him and Jorge as well. You know, his skill it’s amazing to have two guys that can help me, and then I can help them in some ways. We’ve been building a great chemistry within the team.”
Saturday’s match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Steve Cangialosi will be on play-by-play duties on Apple TV’s English-language broadcast alongside match analyst Danny Higginbotham.
Bruno Vain will call the match in Spanish and be joined by Andres Agulla.
Matt Harmon and Steve Jolley will broadcast the match on Red Bulls Radio, which can be streamed on the official Red Bull New York app and RedBullNewYork.com.
If the Red Bulls can earn a victory against NYCFC and follow it up with a win in Kansas City next weekend, they’ll head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup break riding high.
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