Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves
Best Odds: 4/7
Bookmaker: Luckster
Desperately seeking some recent stability, New York City will travel to Texas in the early hours of Saturday when they meet Dallas.
FC Dallas
Starting with the hosts, putting in what was a shock performance last weekend as they stormed their way to a 3-0 victory at home against St. Louis, Dallas will be desperate to use that performance as a platform to build on. However, getting Saturday’s fixtures underway facing a real uphill battle in the race to book a play-off return, Eric Quill’s men have once again shown some glaring inconsistencies this season. Suffering four consecutive defeats on either side of opening July, the Bulls have also failed to register back-to-back wins since the end of March. Likewise, hit with a 3-1 loss when they last met New York City back in April 2023, they have failed to win any of their previous seven meetings across all competitions.
FC Dallas Team News
All still dealing with respective knee injuries, Dallas will once again be without the trio of Paxton Pomykal, Enzo Newman and former Cruzeiro defender Geovane Jesus this weekend.
Completing a permanent move from French outfit Amiens ahead of the 2025 campaign, one-time Sheffield Wednesday youngster Osaze Urhoghide should get some more minutes under his belt. Bagging consecutive MLS braces and now notching eight goals in his last nine outings, Croatian striker Petar Musa will lead the line here.
New York City FC
As for the visitors, although New York might have opened July with a 3-1 victory at home against Toronto, the Pigeons have drastically failed to find any kind of fluidity this season. Suffering late frustration against Sporting KC last weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate in Kansas, Pascal Jansen’s men have won just a trio of their previous eight MLS appearances. Likewise, failing to register consecutive wins over the past couple of months, the former AZ Alkmaar boss has found some mounting pressure on his shoulders at the Yankee Stadium. Despite snatching an eye-catching 2-1 win against Orlando earlier in the month, that is the only away victory that New York have bagged from their previous seven attempts – a run that stems back to the end of April.
New York City FC Team News
Not featuring since the end of May, New York will once again be without one-time Benfica youngster Keaton Alexander Parks this weekend. However, the Pigeons are hopeful that leading marksman Hannes Wolf will return to their travelling squad here.
Despite notching just a single MLS strike over the past couple of months, Costa Rica international Alonso Martinez should keep his spot leading the line. Completing a permeant switch from Belgium-based outfit St. Liege this summer, ex-Burnley midfielder Aidan O’Neill will start in the middle of the park.
FC Dallas vs New York City FC Key Factors to Consider
- When Dallas and New York last met back in April 2023, the Pigeons collected a 3-1 victory on home soil.
- In fact, New York are unbeaten in all of their previous seven meetings against Dallas across all competitions (three wins, four draws).
- Despite landing a shock 3-0 victory against St. Louis last weekend, Dallas have registered just one-point from their other five MLS appearances.
- New York have registered just a sole win from any of their previous seven MLS showdowns away from the Yankee Stadium.
- Seven of the eight historic meetings between Dallas and New York have finished with both teams finding the net.
Conclusion
Landing a 3-1 victory when they last met Dallas back in April 2023, New York will be desperately seeking a repeat performance this weekend. However, watching Dallas spring a real upset last week as they stormed their way to a 3-0 romp at home against St. Louis, the Pigeons have drastically failed to find any kind of fluidity on their travels. Mustering just a single MLS victory away from the Yankee Stadium for their previous seven attempts, NYCFC could face another tricky challenge in the early hours of Saturday.
Verdict: Goal to be scored in both halves
Best Odds: 4/7
Bookmaker: Luckster