:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55053181/usa-today-10076684.0.jpg)
Should we just chalk this one up as a loss and save ourselves the trouble? Because we've seen this script before…
The Red Bulls are facing a bottom-dwelling team in Montreal Impact, who are currently last in the Eastern Conference (sound familiar?)
That isn't to say Montreal are necessarily playing badly.
They've only played 11 games versus the Red Bulls 14. In that time they've scored 18 goals (versus the 15 by RBNY in their 14) and allowed 18 for a GD of 0.
At the very least, they certainly seem to have the Red Bulls number at home. In their last two games at home against RBNY, both in the MLS season and MLS Cup playoffs, the Impact have recorded shutout wins.
Will third time be the charm for Jesse Marsch and company?
Well if their five-game losing streak on the road is any indication, it will take a truly gutsy effort to get any points.
Here is the RBNY predicted XI vs Montreal Impact:
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8616307/RBNY_predicted_XI_at_Montreal.0.jpg)
GK Luis Robles
DF Kemar Lawrence
DF Aaron Long
DF Damien Perrinelle
DF Sal Zizzo - If it ain't broke, don't fix it, and after Zizzo's satisfactory performance against NE, he's earned a chance to fight for the RB job again
MF Sean Davis - Though AmeriKante continues to play marvelously in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Davis made his strongest claim of the year to retain the job even when Tyler Adams returns. Another performance like the one against NE and we could have yet another DM controversy on our hands
MF Felipe
MF Daniel Royer
MF Sacha Kljestan
MF Mike Grella - Though he's still playing on limited minutes, Grella is making it very difficult for Muyl, Veron or Fred to take the attacking midfielder role away from him
FW Bradley Wright-Phillips
Bench: Ryan Meara; Connor Lade, Michael Murillo; Dan Metzger; Alex Muyl, Fredrik Gulbrandsen, Gonzalo Veron
*
For Kljestan, BWP, and Jesse Marsch this game could be a chance to redeem themselves for last year's blunders. No doubt they remember Ignacio Piatti's mockery of their playoff woes after the Impact beat them at Red Bull Arena. It will be a tough task, but if the Red Bulls truly are an MLS Cup contender, they need to start winning games like this on the road.