Sandro Schwarz wants his side to carry their Leagues Cup momentum back into MLS when they return to action at home against Real Salt Lake.
The Red Bulls may have missed out on qualification into the next stage of the Leagues Cup, but Schwarz was keen to focus on the positives after a penalty shoot-out victory over Juarez.
His side fell to defeat in the same manner against Monterrey, though ran out 1-0 winners in their opener against Guadalajara.
“The message in the morning was okay; we are trying everything,” Schwarz reflected after the Juarez victory. Keep the focus of our performance to play very quick in our physical moments to defend altogether.
“But not to think what can happen after the game or how many goals we need.
“From our side, we had some moments with good situations. But when I look to these two weeks with all these League Cups games, this is the way how we want to play. You know, onto Sunday’s next game.”
Exiting @LeaguesCup with our heads held high. pic.twitter.com/1OHDgAaMaq
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) August 8, 2025
The Red Bulls’ run of 15 consecutive MLS playoff appearances is in real jeopardy of ending later this year, with Schwarz’s men 10th in the Eastern Conference.
It has been a contrasting story for RSL, who have shot up to eighth in the Western Conference after just one regular-time defeat in their last 10 competitive outings.
They were, however, also eliminated from the Leagues Cup in midweek following defeats against Club America and San Luis that proved Thursday’s 1-0 win over Queretaro redundant.
“If one of those situations in the previous two games would have gone differently, we’d be there,” head coach Pablo Mastroeni said of finishing outside the top four.
“To win tonight, I think, puts us in a position where we can move forward and deal with our next [MLS] game.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New York Red Bulls – Emil Forsberg
Emil Forsberg has recorded a goal contribution in three consecutive regular-season home games – his longest home streak with a goal contribution in MLS.
The only other Red Bull player with such a streak this season is Eric Choupo-Moting (streaks of both five and four).
Emil Forsberg buries it and the @NewYorkRedBulls have eliminated FC Juarez! #LeaguesCup2025 pic.twitter.com/1coTaxauIe
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 8, 2025
Real Salt Lake – Diogo Goncalves
Diego Luna and Diogo Goncalves have combined to score seven of Salt Lake’s 11 road goals this MLS season.
In RSL’s three road wins, either Luna or Goncalves has provided the game-winner with the latter scoring the winner in their last road match (win over Portland Timbers in July).
MATCH PREDICTION – NEW YORK RED BULLS WIN
The Red Bulls were backed as the heavy favourites by the Opta supercomputer, owing to their strong head-to-head record against their visitors.
Indeed, all six of the Red Bulls’ regular-season wins against RSL have been at home, though this is their first such meeting since 2019.
The red side of New York have also kept a clean sheet in each of their last three home matches against RSL.
On top of their dominant head-to-head record, the Red Bulls are unbeaten when hosting Western Conference opponents (W2 D6) since the start of last season.
The Red Bulls defeated LA Galaxy in May but the club have not won multiple home games in the same season against the Western Conference since 2019, though they both came against the Galaxy and RSL.
RSL will still fancy their chances, however. Since June 12, they have earned 16 points (W5 D1) in seven MLS matches – tied for the most points by a Western Conference team (San Diego FC) during that stretch.
The club earned just 15 points in their first 17 games of the season, but have since turned around their fortunes heading into this clash.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
New York Red Bulls win – 51.9%Draw – 24.5%Real Salt Lake win – 23.6%
