New York City vs New York Red Bulls Prediction & Picks - Major League Soccer

USA - Major League Soccer

New York City
9/18/26 19:30
New York Red Bulls

Prediction:

 

Nicolas Fernandez Mercau to Score

+140
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 by Bradley Gibbs | in Major League Soccer Picks

The next round of Major League Soccer fixtures kicks off with the Hudson River Derby, played between NYCFC and the New York Red Bulls. The pair will fight it out for the third time in 2026, having tied 1-1 when they previously met in MLS, following NYCFC's 3-1 win in the US Open Cup. Friday's visitors are now searching for a first win in five games over their biggest rivals, three of which they've lost. When the pair last clashed in the Bronx, NYCFC won by two goals to zero. 

There's a particularly interesting player prop ahead of Friday's clash at Yankee Stadium, and that player prop is 'Nicolás Fernández Mercau to Score'. The Argentine is enjoying a fine campaign, scoring 15 goals, averaging a chunky 0.63 goals per 90 minutes. He's looked hungry in recent weeks, getting into lots of dangerous positions, which tells us that he can do some serious damage against a Red Bulls team that struggles on the road. 

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New York City vs New York Red Bulls Form

Table

Teams Pts P W D L GD
21 New York Red Bulls
39 33 11 6 16 -17
22 New York City
39 33 9 12 12 +3

New York City and New York Red Bulls Latest Matches

New York City
New York City Latest matches
L D D D L W
Victories

1/6 (17%)

Draw

3/6 (50%)

Defeats

2/6 (33%)

Average stats (Last 6 matchs)

2 Total goals
67% BTTS
1 Goals scored
1 Goals conceded
33% Over 2.5
67% Under 2.5

Sep 12, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Real Salt Lake
0 :  2
New York City

Sep 9, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York City
1 :  2
New England Revolution

Sep 4, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York City
0 :  0
Nashville SC

Aug 29, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Toronto FC
1 :  1
New York City

Aug 23, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New England Revolution
1 :  1
New York City

Aug 19, 2026 - Major League Soccer

FC Cincinnati
2 :  1
New York City
D W L L D L
Victories

1/6 (17%)

Draw

2/6 (33%)

Defeats

3/6 (50%)

Average stats (Last 6 matchs)

2.5 Total goals
67% BTTS
1.17 Goals scored
1.33 Goals conceded
50% Over 2.5
50% Under 2.5

Sep 9, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York City
1 :  2
New England Revolution

Sep 4, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York City
0 :  0
Nashville SC

Aug 16, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York City
2 :  3
Philadelphia Union

Aug 13, 2026 - Leagues Cup

New York City
1 :  2
Club Necaxa

Aug 6, 2026 - Leagues Cup

New York City
2 :  0
Club Santos Laguna

Jul 31, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York City
1 :  1
Toronto FC
W L L D D W
Victories

2/6 (33%)

Draw

2/6 (33%)

Defeats

2/6 (33%)

Average stats (Last 6 matchs)

2.5 Total goals
83% BTTS
1.33 Goals scored
1.17 Goals conceded
50% Over 2.5
50% Under 2.5

Sep 12, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Real Salt Lake
0 :  2
New York City

Aug 29, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Toronto FC
1 :  1
New York City

Aug 23, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New England Revolution
1 :  1
New York City

Aug 19, 2026 - Major League Soccer

FC Cincinnati
2 :  1
New York City

Aug 9, 2026 - Leagues Cup

CF Cruz Azul
2 :  1
New York City

Jul 22, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Columbus Crew
1 :  2
New York City
New York Red Bulls
New York Red Bulls Latest matches
L D L D L W
Victories

1/6 (17%)

Draw

2/6 (33%)

Defeats

3/6 (50%)

Average stats (Last 6 matchs)

1.67 Total goals
33% BTTS
0.5 Goals scored
1.17 Goals conceded
17% Over 2.5
83% Under 2.5

Sep 12, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Columbus Crew
0 :  1
New York Red Bulls

Sep 9, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Los Angeles FC
2 :  0
New York Red Bulls

Sep 5, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Seattle Sounders
0 :  0
New York Red Bulls

Aug 29, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York Red Bulls
1 :  3
Philadelphia Union

Aug 22, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York Red Bulls
1 :  1
Chicago Fire

Aug 19, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York Red Bulls
0 :  1
Nashville SC
D L W L D L
Victories

1/6 (17%)

Draw

2/6 (33%)

Defeats

3/6 (50%)

Average stats (Last 6 matchs)

2.67 Total goals
67% BTTS
1 Goals scored
1.67 Goals conceded
33% Over 2.5
67% Under 2.5

Aug 29, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York Red Bulls
1 :  3
Philadelphia Union

Aug 22, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York Red Bulls
1 :  1
Chicago Fire

Aug 19, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York Red Bulls
0 :  1
Nashville SC

Aug 1, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York Red Bulls
3 :  2
Orlando City SC

Jul 25, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York Red Bulls
0 :  2
Charlotte FC

May 16, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York Red Bulls
1 :  1
New York City
W L L D L W
Victories

2/6 (33%)

Draw

1/6 (17%)

Defeats

3/6 (50%)

Average stats (Last 6 matchs)

2.17 Total goals
50% BTTS
0.83 Goals scored
1.33 Goals conceded
50% Over 2.5
50% Under 2.5

Sep 12, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Columbus Crew
0 :  1
New York Red Bulls

Sep 9, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Los Angeles FC
2 :  0
New York Red Bulls

Sep 5, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Seattle Sounders
0 :  0
New York Red Bulls

Aug 15, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Atlanta United Fc
2 :  1
New York Red Bulls

Jul 22, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Philadelphia Union
3 :  1
New York Red Bulls

May 23, 2026 - Major League Soccer

Sporting Kansas City
1 :  2
New York Red Bulls

New York City against New York Red Bulls : Head to Head (H2H)

New York City

67 %

Draw

17 %

New York Red Bulls

17 %

Average stats (last H2H results)

3.5
Total goals
66.67%
BTTS
2.33
Goals scored
1.17
Goals conceded
50%
Over 2.5
50%
Under 2.5

May 16, 2026 - Major League Soccer

New York Red Bulls
1 :  1
New York City

Apr 29, 2026 - US Open Cup

New York Red Bulls
1 :  3
New York City

Sep 27, 2025 - Major League Soccer

New York Red Bulls
2 :  3
New York City

May 17, 2025 - Major League Soccer

New York City
2 :  0
New York Red Bulls

Nov 23, 2024 - Major League Soccer

New York City
0 :  2
New York Red Bulls

Sep 28, 2024 - Major League Soccer

New York Red Bulls
1 :  5
New York City
New York City vs New York Red Bulls Picks

New York City against New York Red Bulls Lineups: Starting 11

New York City

Formation : 4 - 3 - 3

49
M. Freese
24
T. Gray
13
T. Martins
6
J. Sands
2
N. Cavallo
21
A. O'Neill
7
N. Fernandez
8
A. Perea
26
A. Ojeda
20
Luighi
17
H. Wolf
7
C. Cowell
16
J. Hall
17
C. Harper
37
M. Sofo
15
A. Mehmeti
48
R. Donkor
56
M. Dos Santos
14
J. Bazan
26
T. Parker
12
D. Nealis
34
E. Horvath

Formation : 4 - 3 - 3

New York Red Bulls

Substitutes

New York City
New York City
Goalkeeper

T. Romero

Defender

M. Ilenic

Raul Gustavo

Midfielder

B. Traore

H. Wolf 63'

J. Shore

A. Perea 62'

Forward

K. O'Toole

M. Jones

A. Ojeda 76'

M. Murray

A. Martinez

Luighi 62'

New York Red Bulls
New York Red Bulls
Goalkeeper

J. McCarthy

Defender

D. Padelford

M. Dos Santos 62'

R. Voloder

Midfielder

D. Ruiz

A. Mehmeti 85'

S. Kone

E. Forsberg

Forward

E. Choupo-Moting

J. Hall 85'

J. Ruvalcaba

C. Cowell 85'

D. Nelich

Missing players

New York City
New York City
Defender

K. Trewin

D. Baiera

Midfielder

M. Moralez

K. Parks

Forward

Talles Magno

A. Farnos

New York Red Bulls
New York Red Bulls
Goalkeeper

A. Marcucci

Most goals and assists

CD Huachipato New York City
CD Huachipato New York Red Bulls
Top Goalscorer
Argentina N. Fernandez (16 Goals)
Top Goalscorer
USA J. Hall (13 Goals)
Best assists
Argentina A. Ojeda (10 Assists)
Best assists
USA C. Cowell (7 Assists)

New York City - New York Red Bulls Key Points

  1. No NYCFC player has scored more goals than Nicolás Fernández Mercau this season.
  2. Nicolas Fernández Mercau averages 0.63 goals per 90 minutes this season.
  3. Only two Major League Soccer players have scored more goals than Nicolás Fernández Mercau in 2026.
  4. Nicolás Fernández Mercau averages an impressive 1.48 shots on target per 90 minutes.
Up to $350 to bet on New York City - New York Red Bulls! 

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Our New York City vs New York Red Bulls Prediction

Few forwards have been more threatening than Nicolás Fernández Mercau this season, and that's why the NYCFC forward has scored the third-most goals during the 2026 Major League Soccer season. The Argentine got himself back on the scoresheet last time out, and with that effort under his belt, he looks slightly better placed to hurt the Red Bulls than early odds of +140 would have us believe. 

Essentially, we're talking about a man who has scored 63% of the time this term, which really does make odds of +140 (= 41.7% implied probability) look too large to ignore. 

Our NYCFC vs New York Red Bulls Pick: Nicolás Fernández Mercau to Score.

Prediction:

 

Nicolas Fernandez Mercau to Score

+140
$350 offered for betting!

All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.