Nashville SC travel to the Garden State to take on the New York Red Bulls in their second match of the 2025 campaign.
Both teams were unable to get the full mark in their opening match, the Red Bulls lost 1-0 at FC Cincinnati. while Nashville were held to a scoreless draw at home against New England.
There were however some promising signs for the Boys in Gold, something they'll lean on as they try to get the first win in club history against the Red Bulls.
Match info
Teams: Nashville SC vs New York Red Bulls
Referees: Rosendo Mendoza (Referee), Lyes Arfa (AR1), Gerard-Kader Lebuis (AR2), Ekaterina (Katja) Koroleva (Fourth), Mike Kampmeinert (VAR), Guido Gonzales Jr. (AVAR)
Odds: RBNY (-160), Draw (+300), NSH (+400)
Date: Saturday, March 1, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm CT, Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, NJ
TV: MLS Season Pass – Apple TV
TV Commentary: Callum Williams & Calen Carr (English), Alejandro
Figueredo & Tony Cherchi (Spanish)
Radio: 104.5 The Zone
Radio Commentary: Will Boling & Eddie Carvacho
Forecast: 22º/56º. Partly cloudy and gusty winds at 20 to 30 mph.
Head-to-head
Meetings: 6
Nashville wins: 0
Draws: 4
New York wins: 2
Last meeting: NYRB 0-0 NSH (June 15, 2024)
New York Red Bulls
Injury report
OUT:
After making a surprise run to the 2024 MLS Cup final and coming up short, the Red Bulls made some significant moves in the winter window.
The addition of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting as a Designated Player striker is one of the biggest signings in club history. After stints with the likes Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, the Cameroonian international has decided on Harrison as his new home.
Head coach Sandro Schwarz will start his third season with several other additions to the squad. Veteran defenders Tim Parker and Raheem Edwards were signed, the former playing in his second stint with the club. From outside the league, the Red Bulls secured the signatures of Polish striker Wiktor Bogacz as a U22 initiative signing as well as veteran center back Alexander Hack, who played under Schwarz at Mainz.
Homegrown fullback John Tolkin heads the list of departures for the former MetroStars, while other significant players like Elias Manoel, Andres Reyes and Dante Vanzeir also left the club.
Schwarz says "It's great to see the supporters yesterday and say thank you for the last year of support. Now it's a new season, and I'm excited to stand on our sideline with our supporters at my back." #RBNY On Choupo's durability, Schwarz says managing player loads will be important.
— Mark Fishkin (@markfishkin.bsky.social) 2025-02-27T17:45:56.801Z
The Red Bulls season opener against Cincinnati was nothing to write home about. Although nothing went terribly wrong and a 1-0 loss on the road to a Supporters' Shield contender isn't a terrible result, chances were very limited. That said, the team will be ready to put their Matchday One loss behind them and face Nashville at the newly re-named Sports Illustrated Stadium.
The Red Bulls' brand of "energy drink soccer" is no secret, yet their aggressiveness and pressing is still very effective. What differentiates this iteration of New York is players like Emil Forsberg and Lewis Morgan, who are able to turn those pressing moments into chances, and hopefully goals.
Nashville SC
Injury report
OUT:
Though a scoreless draw wasn't a great result, there were enough promising moments for the Boys in Gold to find some positives from their opening 0-0 draw with New England.
BJ Callaghan's high-pressing 4-2-2-2 system seemingly working as intended last weekend. Despite the numerous injuries, Nashville looked more comfortable in possession than at any point in their existence. The trust and "next man up" mentality that Callaghan has enlisted served Nashville well in their opening act, with Wyatt Meyer and Matt Corcoran starting their first MLS matches in midfield together.
Nashville will need to be careful against the Red Bulls, as the challenge they pose will be completely different. The Boys in Gold had some questionable moments while building out of the back, something that can not be repeated against a high pressing team like the Red Bulls.
Joe Willis really wanted to get in on the fun.
— Ben Wright (@benwright.bsky.social) 2025-02-25T04:01:21.578Z
Despite some players being seemingly back, Nashville SC are still not at 100%. Callaghan told media on Thursday that Patrick Yazbek and Gastón Brugman are back in training, and Jacob Shaffelburg is still in the early stages of recovery. Julian Gaines is still out, while Bryan Acosta was not seen in training on Thursday.
Even when those players rejoin team training, there's usually a period of adaptation and building up to match sharpness. It wouldn't be surprising to see the same players rested or eased onto the bench despite being "healthy."
Staff predictions
Ben Wright
Score: NSH 1-1 RBNY
Scorers: Sam Surridge, Sean Nealis
MOTM: Eddi Tagseth
Bold prediction: Nashville and Red Bulls combine for at least seven yellow cards.
Chris Ivey
Score: NSH 0-2 RBNY
Scorers: Emil Forsberg, Lewis Morgan
MOTM: Lewis Morgan
Bold prediction: Nashville’s inexperienced defensive midfielders succumb to the Red Bull press with giveaways, leading directly to both goals.
Jeff Remlinger
Score: NSH 1-1 RBNY
Scorers: Sam Surridge
MOTM: Walker Zimmerman
Bold prediction: Both teams take 12+ shots and produce less than 1.5 xG each.
Ronan Briscoe
Score: NSH 0-1 RBNY
Scorers: Emil Forsberg
MOTM: Joe Willis
Bold prediction: Red Bull Arena (or whatever it’s called now) has a weird voodoo for Nashville. The only time I can remember them winning in that building was during COVID against Montreal. That voodoo continues.
Valair Shabilla
Score: NSH 0-1 RBNY
Scorers: Emil Forsberg (penalty)
MOTM: Walker Zimmerman
Bold prediction: The Red Bulls force a mistake from Willis or the backline to get the game's only goal.
Fan forecast
Nashville SC head on the road for the first time in 2025 to take on the New York Red Bulls. Nashville have never beaten the Red Bulls – can they change that on Saturday?
— SixOneFive Soccer (@615Soccer) February 28, 2025
Vote in our #FanForecast and reply with a #BoldPrediction. #NYvNSH
Pre-match media
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Ben Wright
