Pascal Jansen is gearing up for a “passionate” and “intense” Hudson River derby and is confident his New York City FC team can maintain control against the New York Red Bulls.
After going seven games without a win in MLS (D4 L3), NYCFC broke that streak last weekend with a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.
The much-needed win has positioned Jansen’s squad in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, keeping them within reach of the playoff positions.
The previous derby this season ended in a 1-1 draw, but Jansen is determined to secure all three points at Yankee Stadium, emphasizing the importance of not getting overwhelmed by the match’s emotional intensity.
“We recognize this is a derby. I’ve been in a few, and I’ve seen how my team reacts in those situations,” Jansen stated during his pre-match press conference.
“We’ve managed to strike a good balance when facing the Red Bulls, but we’re also very conscious of what’s at stake.”
“The emotions run high; it means a lot to our fans from both clubs. Regardless, it will be an intense matchup.”
“Our primary focus is to remain composed, stick to our game plan, and aim for a positive outcome after our performance against Salt Lake.”
The Red Bulls are just two points and two spots below NYCFC, knowing that a win could boost them into playoff contention.
They also ended a winless spell last weekend, having gone six matches without a victory (D2 L4) before narrowly defeating the Columbus Crew 1-0, marking their pursuit of a consecutive away win.
Training from the ground up
https://t.co/LUmTtcJ8CT pic.twitter.com/C6W76VukyH
— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) September 16, 2026
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New York City FC – Agustin Ojeda
Agustin Ojeda contributed assists on both goals during NYCFC’s match against Real Salt Lake, becoming the fifth player this season to achieve a multi-assist game for the team.
This ties for the highest number of players achieving this feat in a single regular season for NYCFC (five in 2016), with Nashville SC having the most this season (six).
New York Red Bulls – Ronald Donkor
Since the beginning of May, every one of the New York Red Bulls’ 17 regular-season goals has come from inside the box (including penalties).
Ronald Donkor netted the most recent goal to clinch the win against the Crew, scoring on his only shot and managing just three touches in the opposition’s box.
MATCH PREDICTION: NEW YORK CITY FC WIN
NYCFC has triumphed in five of their last seven encounters across all competitions with the Red Bulls since the start of 2024 (D1 L1).
This includes an unbeaten run of four matches (W3 D1), the longest for NYCFC against NYRB and tied for the longest in their rivalry’s history.
In September, NYCFC secured clean sheets in two of their three matches, including the recent 2-0 victory over RSL. Prior to this month, they had gone nine consecutive matches conceding at least one goal dating back to mid-May.
The Red Bulls have only seen two total goals in their last three matches (one scored, one conceded). This is tied for the fewest goals scored in a span of three regular-season games in their 31-year MLS history (five previous instances).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
New York City FC – 53.1%
Draw – 24%
New York Red Bulls – 22.9%
Fan Take: This derby is crucial for both teams not just for standings but also for pride and fan loyalty. A win could significantly boost momentum heading into the playoffs, making it an essential match for NYCFC and the Red Bulls alike.
Source: www.soccernews.com
