FC Cincinnati vs New York Red Bulls: prediction, H2H and probable lineups — 26.04.2026
Red Bull New York
One of the MLS regular season showdowns is set for Saturday night at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, where the local FC Cincinnati will host the New York Red Bulls. Both teams are coming off explosive 4-4 shootouts, so fans can expect another open, attacking contest with plenty of chances created.
Match preview
FC Cincinnati is currently in full turbulence mode: the team scores plenty, but their defense routinely collapses under even basic pressure. In their last six matches, the hosts have just one victory, but every single game has seen both teams score, with recent 4-4 and 3-3 thrillers against New York City and Chicago Fire perfectly illustrating their current style.
Defensive vulnerability is a major concern: Cincinnati have shipped 20 goals in their last six outings, including a 1-5 defeat to Tigres in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and a 2-4 loss to these same Red Bulls earlier in April. Still, they have serious firepower up front: Kevin Denkey already has four goals to his name, while Evander and Echenique help keep the attacking tempo high.
The New York Red Bulls aren’t exactly a model of defensive stability either, but their pace in transition and individual quality up front make them a constant threat. Recently, they drew 4-4 with DC United, lost 1-4 to Montreal, beat Pittsburgh Riverhounds 3-1 in the US Open Cup, and drew 2-2 with Inter Miami - a run that shows the Red Bulls rarely play cagey, low-scoring matches.
The key man is Emil Forsberg, who consistently finds himself in promising shooting positions, especially on the road. The Swede averages 2.16 shots per 90 minutes, has fired 12 shots in five away games this season, and boasts a 0.27 xG per 90. Against such an open Cincinnati side, his role could prove crucial.
Probable lineups
- FC Cincinnati: Celentano, Smith, Flores, Hadebe, Echenique, Buha, Evander, Gidi, Mboma Dem, Barlow, Denkey.
- New York Red Bulls: Horvat, Marshall-Rutty, Nealis, Voloder, Dos Santos, Donkor, Mehmeti, Forsberg, Mosquera, Hall, Ruvalcaba.
Match facts and head-to-head
- FC Cincinnati’s last six matches have averaged 5.83 goals, with both teams scoring in every single one.
- The New York Red Bulls have also seen both teams score in each of their last six games, all of which went over 2.5 total goals.
- In the first head-to-head this season, New York Red Bulls defeated FC Cincinnati 4-2.
Prediction
This is a clash between two sides who haven’t learned to control chaos, but know exactly how to unleash it in the final third. Cincinnati at home will likely try to take the initiative, but their current defensive form makes a clean sheet highly unlikely. New York Red Bulls have already shown they can break Cincinnati down, and Forsberg will find ideal conditions here: space between the lines, rapid transitions, and plenty of loose balls around the penalty area. This matchup points toward another high-scoring affair, where the visitors look well equipped to score more than once.
