The Orlando City SC and New York Red Bulls will clash in a match that can reverse the fortunes of both sides. The Red Bulls, with a battle-hardened draw on their tails, are eager to turn possession into goals. The Orlando, stung by a second-half meltdown in their recent loss to NYCFC, need to get their cutting edge back. The two sides know each other well—23 games, with a slight advantage to the Red Bulls. Last week, the Red Bulls defeated Orlando 1-0 in a close game. Now, with the injuries piling up and the standings coming together, time is a precious commodity. The Red Bulls sit 7th on 4 points, and Orlando was 12th on 3. This ain't no game; it's a war about momentum.
Claim Welcome BonusNew York Red Bulls
The New York Red Bulls are walking a tightrope in the Eastern Conference. Their last game, a 0-0 draw with Atlanta United, showed control—60% possession, 7 shots on goal—but no finish. They had 2 corners, 7 fouls, and 2 yellow cards, and their keeper made 6 saves. It was a game they could've won, but the goal was barren. Now, they face Orlando with an expected goals (xG) of 1.43, which indicates scoring chances if they get their acts together. The injury list is brutal: Lewis Morgan, Kyle Duncan, Cameron Harper, Serge Ngoma, Marcelo Morales, Roald Mitchell, Wiktor Bogacz, Ronald Donkor, Mohammed Sofo, and Adri Mehmeti are all doubtful or out. That's a lot of pieces to be missing for coach Sandro Schwarz to have to work around. Recent form—DLLWD (Draw, Loss, Loss, Win, Draw)—is up and down, but 4 points from 3 games keeps them at 7th.
Emil Forsberg is the man to watch. The Swedish playmaker has 1 goal in 3 matches, and his vision could be what unlocks Orlando's defense. Schwarz will be counting on him to ignite a team that's been good but not great. The Red Bulls stat-ed out Atlanta but failed to cash in. vs Orlando, they'll need to make stats count. Their backline, which got 6 saves from their last outing, will have to remain solid—Orlando's attack will capitalize on errors.
This match is a chance to climb the table. A win could solidify their playoff case. A loss, on the other hand, would expose vulnerabilities in an already barebones team. Schwarz knows what's on the line: it's not just points, but showing that this team can close out what it starts.
Orlando City SC
Orlando City SC are staggering. Their 2-1 defeat to New York City FC last week showed their weakness—45% possession, 4 corners, 15 shots on goal, yet only one was scored by Luis Muriel. They committed 10 fouls, picked up 2 yellows, and required 7 saves just to stay in the game. But they then fell apart in the end. Now they visit New York with a 1.29 xG, meaning they will make chances but have to finish them.
Injuries are not helping them out: David Brekalo, Duncan McGuire, Nicolás Rodriguez, Favian Loyola, and Yutaro Tsukada are question marks. Lean squad to work with for Coach Óscar Pareja. Recent form—LDLWL (Loss, Draw, Loss, Win, Loss)—shouts inconsistency. With 3 points from 3 games, they're 12th and on the decline.
Pedro Gallese is their lifeline. 8 saves by the goalkeeper in 3 games have saved them when the defense could not. On NYCFC, he made 7 saves, but it did not matter. Pareja is going to need Gallese at his best—the Red Bulls attack, led by Forsberg, will not be denied too many opportunities. Orlando's 15 shots last week show how much they mean business, but finishing has been their undoing. Muriel's goal was a bright spot; they expect more out of him.
This is a gut check. Orlando has lost 2 of their past 3, and another slip-up could put their playoff aspirations six feet under prematurely. The Red Bulls defeated them 1-0 in December, and that bitterness still tastes fresh. Pareja's task is obvious: shore up the defense, convert chances into goals, and not repeat the implosion. If not, this road trip can turn a wobbly beginning into a full-blown crisis.
Head to Head
The Orlando City SC and New York Red Bulls have a close and complicated heritage. In 23 meetings, the Red Bulls lead 11-9-3 in victories. It is a rivalry where neither side takes it easy. Their last meeting, on December 1, 2024, saw the Red Bulls eke out a 1-0 victory at home. That result wasn't flashy—just one goal between them—but it showed New York's capacity to beat Orlando when it matters.
History of Head-to-Heads
Major League Soccer 2025 
New York Red Bulls
Major League Soccer 2025
Orlando City
Major League Soccer Playoff 2024
New York Red Bulls
Major League Soccer 2024
Orlando City
Major League Soccer 2024
New York Red Bulls
New York Red Bulls Latest Games
New York Red Bulls 
New York Red Bulls
New York Red Bulls
New York Red Bulls
LA Galaxy
New York Red Bulls
Orlando City Latest Games
Orlando City
Portland Timbers
Orlando City
Charlotte FC
New England Revolution
Orlando City
Expert Betting Tips
Under 2.5 Goals (1.9 Odds): Both teams are not good finishers—Red Bulls' 0-0 last game and Orlando's 2-1 loss mean so. Their last meeting was 1-0.
Red Bulls Win or Draw & Under 4.5 Goals (1.6 Odds): New York's recently on a home unbeaten streak against Orlando, and their recent form (4 points) is better than Orlando's (3 points).
Both Teams to Score - No (2.6 Odds): The Red Bulls had a shutout in their previous game, and Orlando's offense has been inconsistent. Both offenses were hampered by injuries
Other predictions
