New York Red Bulls vs Montreal Impact Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

New York Red Bulls didn’t have the best of times as they kicked off their MLS Cup campaign. They failed to get the better of a reinvigorated Montreal Impact side and came out the other side 1-0 down, but it’s by no means an unscaleable mountain for them to come back from.

It will have come as a big shock for the hosts though. Prior to that New York Red Bulls were unbeaten in 21 competitive matches, and they have won five of their preceding seven. This comes just after they relinquished their MLS Supporters Shield trophy to FC Dallas, so it hasn’t been a good few weeks for the Red Bulls.

They will have every faith that they can turn it around though, especially looking back on their home form. Red Bulls are unbeaten since April at the Red Bull Arena and have won 15 of their 17 matches there since. Eight of these 15 victories have been by a two or more goal margin, and the man at the heart of this success is the MLS top scorer.

Bradley Wright-Phillips has netted an impressive 24 goals in the league this season, and 14 of those have come in his 17 home matches. This includes five in his last five home matches in the MLS, so odds of 5/6 for him to score anytime actually look pretty good value.

The hosts have been known to have some defensive lapses though, and that brings Ignacio Piatti into the fray. The Argentine attacker has netted 18 league goals this season and has scored ten of them away from home. Odds of 3/1 for him to find the net again look extremely good value, considering New York Red Bulls have conceded four in their last two at home.

Montreal Impact are in decent down at the moment with three wins in their last six away days, but generally they have struggled on the road this season. This shows with results such as a 4-2 loss at Toronto and, perhaps most crucially, a 3-1 defeat at the Red Bulls Arena back in August. They have since lost 1-0 away from home to New York Red Bulls again, so the omens don’t look good for the visitors.

I definitely expect the hosts to get the win here, and with them already a goal down, it means they have to properly go for it up front. They have scored 14 goals in their last seven home games as well, but cracks at the back have appeared recently. Six of their last nine at home have seen at least three goals in total, so I’m backing a New York Red Bulls Win and Over 2.5 Goals at 6/5 along with a 3-1 correct score prediction at 11/1.