New York Red Bulls vs Miami Inter CF Prediction, Preview, And Odds - 7/17/21
New York will be looking to pick up a win against possibly the worst team in the MLS when it hosts Inter Miami CF on Saturday. Miami has lost its last five matches, meaning its last win came on May 16. The Red Bulls are coming off a frustrating draw against Philadelphia, but they are still in a good position to make the playoffs.
New York
New York comes into this match on the heels of a frustrating 1-1 draw against Philadelphia last week. The visitors tied the match on a header in the 85thminute, despite being down to 10 men. The Red Bulls have not suffered a loss since June 23, when New England notched a 3-2 win. They have since picked up a pair of draws against Atlanta and the aforementioned Union while adding a 2-1 win against Orlando City. New York is sitting in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, so picking up wins over opponents like Miami is critical.
The Red Bulls could make up a lot of ground in the Eastern Conference, as second and ninth place, are separated by just five points. They had won four straight matches at Red Bull Arena prior to the draw against Philadelphia. New York has picked up at least one point in five of its last six matches. Striker Patryk Klimala has been involved in five of his team’s last seven goals—he has scored twice and assisted on three others. He will start alongside Fabio at the tip of the attack. Forward Caden Clark and midfielder Youba Diarra will be unavailable on Saturday.
Inter Miami
Inter Miami has only recorded two wins all season, with the most recent one coming on May 16 against Cincinnati. It has been all downhill since then, as the club has been unable to even record a draw during the five-match span. Miami has lost four of those five matches by a single goal, including a 1-0 setback against Montreal its last time out. The offense has been a major concern, with only one goal scored by its attack during that stretch. They have failed to score in six of their 11 matches this season and are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference.
Head coach Phil Neville now has a ton of pressure on him to find some wins as the season winds down. His side held a 1-0 lead against Orlando City in June, but they conceded two goals in the final 20 minutes to lose the match. Gonzalo Higuain scored that goal for Miami, but he is still not in the starting 11. He is the only player on the team to hit the net more than once this season. Miami did pick up a win at New York last season, which may give them a little bit of confidence as they go on the road for this one.
Spread (New York -130)
This is almost a must-win match for New York playing in front of its home crowd. The Red Bulls are well-positioned to make the playoffs, but they need to take care of business in matches like this one. Miami is probably the worst team in the MLS, which makes this the perfect opportunity for the home side. The pressure is really mounting on Miami and it has not seemed to be beneficial. Klimala is in good form for New York and should be involved in a goal or two on Saturday.
Total (Under 2.5)
Inter Miami is simply not finding the back of the net right now. It has only scored one goal across its last five matches and has the worst offense in the MLS. This is shaping up to be another scoreless match for them, especially since it is on the road. New York has not exactly been lighting up the scoreboard either, so this should not be a high-scoring contest. The Red Bulls will come through with a goal or two to win the match, but I would be surprised to see three goals scored.
Teaser
Miami has another opportunity to snap its winless streak when it travels to New York on Saturday night.
