How to watch Atlanta United vs New York Red Bulls in 2018 MLS Eastern Conference Final, first leg: start time, TV schedule, and live stream

The New York Red Bulls set a new points record for the MLS regular season in 2018: 71 points. Atlanta United finished second to RBNY in the Supporters’ Shield race with the same number of points as the old record: 69.

The 2018 MLS Eastern Conference Final is being contested by the league’s best-ever team and the league’s best-ever second-best team. Clearly, this is the league’s best-ever Conference Final.

Indeed, it should be considered this year’s MLS Cup Final. Yes, that will be played between the winner of this series and the winner of the Western Conference Final (Sporting Kansas City or Portland Timbers). Sure, KC or Portland could very well snatch MLS Cup - either team is quite capable of winning a game of soccer.

But that is also exactly why the Eastern Conference Final is this year’s true final. It’s the match-up that puts the season’s two best teams against each other for no other reason than to see which one can beat the other.

One of these teams might win MLS Cup, or neither. But one of them will definitely win the best Conference Final ever. Which one of them wins won’t be conclusively settled until the second leg at Red Bull Arena on November 29, but the first leg in Atlanta will decide the team that feels best about its chances of clinching the series four days later.

For fans in New York stuck for a place to watch the game - join Once A Metro’s Dan Feuerstein at McHale’s Bar & Grill at 251 West 51st St.

Or, per livesoccertv.com, here’s where to find the game if you’re not leaving the house:

Atlanta United vs New York Red Bulls - 2018 MLS Eastern Conference Final, first leg

When: 5:00 pm, Eastern; Sunday, November 25, 2018

Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

TV: ESPN, ESPN Deportes

Online: New York Red Bulls Radio, ESPN Deportes+ ,fubo.tv