This Eastern Conference clash pits New York Red Bulls up against Nashville SC with both franchises jockeying for a play-off position. New York welcome Nashville to the Red Bull Arena on Friday and the hosts know that win would see them jump from 9th, ahead of their opponents and possibly into a play-off place. Nashville are currently 7th and in that final play-off place for now but things could change. Atlanta United sit in between these two teams and they very nearly took all three points in their meeting with Nashville at the end of May but they threw away a two-goal lead and the game ended in a tie.
As for New York, their last assignment saw them take all three points in a 2-1 win over Orlando City however, back-to-back defeats to New England Revolution and the Philadelphia Union prior to that victory leaves them lagging in the playoff race. Manager Gerhard Struber saw his side take on the Eastern Conference’s top three teams before the international break so he will be glad to face off against more even opponents here. New York have won each of their last three home league matches and have conceded just three times in four games at the Red Bull Arena so far this season.
Nashville remain unbeaten through seven matches so far this season although five of those have ended in a draw. They fought back from two goals down against Atalanta to tie for the second time in a row on the road and they remain winless on their travels this season. Nashville have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five matches but failed to score in two of those games themselves.