Red or Blue?
Football fans will be quite familiar with this question. We have seen it in England, with Arsenal facing Chelsea in the London Derby. In Manchester as Manchester United battle "noisy neighbours" Manchester City. In Merseyside when Liverpool and Everton mix it up. And moving into continental Europe, in Italy as AC Milan take on Inter in clashes featuring the Rossoneri ("red and blacks") versus the Nerazzurri ("black and blues").
Now, America-based football followers will have their own special derby as the New York Red Bulls face off against newly created MLS side New York City FC. So new is this latest addition to the red versus blue debate that a name has not been officially decided for it, with some simply calling it the "New York Derby" whilst others have referred to it as the "Hudson River Derby". However, whatever one wishes to call it, it surely will set the stage for bragging rights in the New York metropolitan area for years to come.
Both the Red Bulls, who currently sit in third place, and NYC, who are third from last, will be coming into this match following losses. The hosts had their unbeaten streak snapped following a 2-1 reversal to New England Revolution last Saturday on the road, whilst the visitors, after a bright start, suffered yet another blow as they were outclassed 3-1 by Seattle Sounders at Yankee Stadium a week ago.
New York Red Bulls and New York City FC would like to creatte the same kind of city-derby atmosphere seen across the pond in England
As such, Jason Kreis's men have extended their winless run to seven matches, with their first and only win coming back on March 15th against the Revs. Despite seeing his team near the bottom of their conference and overall in the league, Kreis has chosen to look at these events as a natural learning process:
.@JasonKreis on the work ahead for #NYCFC pic.twitter.com/bHWe41Mypu
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) May 7, 2015
Of concern for NYC will be the fitness of David Villa, with the Spanish star struggling with an adductor strain. Given his influence on his team, in which he can find a goal nearly out of anything, he featured against Seattle but the effects of his injury were quite apparent, so fans will hope he will have recovered more since then as they aim to strike first in this historic derby. Kreis will also be without Kwame Watson-Siriboe due to a ban.
Meanwhile the Red Bulls are sans a win in their last three games and have only scored once in those trio of fixtures. Jesse Marsch's players are seeking more than just a rebound after a downturn of results, but to strike first blood in which be a long series of derbies to come:
It will also be an interesting game for Moroccan midfielder Medhi Ballouchy, who played for the Red Bulls from 2010-2012, scoring four goals in the process. Defender Jason Hernandez is another to have previously played for the "red side" of New York - in 2005 - when they were known as the MetroStars.
So, will New York be red or blue after this historic clash? Tune in to find out!
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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