New York Red Bulls vs Inter Miami Betting Preview
After plenty of MLS action on Tuesday and Wednesday, the MLS weekend gets started on Friday night when the New York Red Bulls visit Inter Miami CF. Both teams begin Friday on the outside of the playoff picture, making them desperate to collect all three points on Friday. However, the visiting Red Bulls are a little further down the table, so they can’t afford to drop points at this stage of the season.
According to BetUS, Inter Miami is favored at home with a -100 moneyline while the Red Bulls have a moneyline of +265. There is an even more lucrative moneyline of +270 if the match ends in a draw. Oddsmakers also give this game an over/under of 2.5 total goals.
Playoff Push
It’s possible for Inter Miami to end the weekend in a playoff spot. They currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference standings, one spot and one point away from the final playoff position. In fact, the Herons would be tied for fourth place with a win on Friday, albeit before the rest of the league plays this weekend.
Meanwhile, New York is sitting in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, a full 10 points out of the last playoff spot. At the moment, the Red Bulls are looking like a long shot to play in the postseason. But with 12 games left on the schedule, including Friday’s match in South Florida, nothing is impossible.
Gotta Get the Points
The Red Bulls blew an opportunity to pick up a point on the road Tuesday night when they allowed a late goal against Columbus in a 2-1 loss. Ironically, Columbus is the only team that the Red Bulls have beaten in their last 11 matches. If there’s a silver lining is that’s New York has only allowed 14 goals in those 11 matches, as the Red Bulls have a solid defensive record and always seem to find themselves in games.
The catch is the Red Bulls have only scored 25 goals in 22 league matches this season. Patrick Klimala has led the way with five goals and five assists this season. But New York has struggled to find other sources of production outside of teen sensation Caden Clark, who opposing teams tend to watch carefully.
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Feel the Heat
In their second season of existence, the Herons are starting to find themselves coming down the stretch. A late penalty kick on Tuesday night helped Inter Miami earn its third consecutive 1-0 victory, giving the Herons five wins and one draw in their last six matches to help put them in a position to make a run at the playoffs. Of course, it remains to be seen if winning 1-0 is sustainable, especially for a team that still has a negative goal differential.
That being said, the Inter Miami defense has held four consecutive clean sheets. The Herons are also getting results with leading scorer and assist man Gonzalo Higuain contributing just one goal in his last five matches. Miami’s supporting cast is stepping up and allowing the Herons to grind out results, even if they are facing teams that have a little more talent.
Can’t Stop Them Now
Even if Inter Miami is getting it done with smoke and mirrors, it’d be foolish to bet against them now. The Herons are finding ways to win while the Red Bulls are finding ways to lose. Bet on Inter Miami to make it four straight wins on Friday night.
Meanwhile, the under on 2.5 total goals is also a great bet in this matchup. Not only has Inter Miami held four straight clean sheets, but New York is also tough defensively. Plus, neither team has attacking prowess, making the under the obvious pick in this match.
