New York City FC (1-5-3; 6 points) travels across the Hudson River for their first ever New York Derby against the New York Red Bulls (3-1-4; 13 points) Sunday evening. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT from Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. The match will be broadcast nationally on Fox Sports 1.

New York City FC is coming off a 3-1 home defeat to the Seattle Sounders. New York gave up a first half goal to Obafemi Martins before Mehdi Ballouchy scored early in the second half to know things at one. Yet a few minutes later Clint Dempsey restored the Seattle lead, while Martins added a second to secure three points for the visiting Sounders. NYCFC are now winless in their last seven matches. For more on the match, click HERE and HERE

The Red Bulls are coming of their first loss of the season, a 2-1 match in Foxborough against the Revolution. The Revolution opened the scoring in the ninth minute on a Charlie Davies header. The second goal came in the 60th minute, where Teal Bunbury beat Robles on a 1 on 1 after a nice pass from Lee Nguyen. Sacha Kljestan scored the lone Red Bull goal in the 73rd minute. 

Despite the poor run of form for New York City FC, coach Jason Kreis is optimistic ahead of their first ever derby when he spoke to NYCFC.com. 

“Speaking with a lot of the guys, they’re confident with what they’re doing and the direction they’re headed in, as am I,” Kreis said. “We’ve said all along this is a process and it’s going to take some time. It’s probably taken a little longer than I expected, but it doesn’t change the feelings all of us had coming into this knowing it wouldn’t be a perfect situation right out of the gate.” [NYCFC.com]

While David Villa did not start last week against Seattle, expect the Spaniard to star Sunday in Harrison, NJ. Defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe is suspended for the match after being sent off against Seattle, yet Jason Hernandez is questionable for the match. Pablo Alvarez impressed in his first ever start last week for NYCFC, so expect him to play in some capacity on Sunday. 

Here is the official NYCFC injury report: Adam Nemec: Probable (Left Ankle Sprain) Jason Hernandez: Probable (Right Gastroc Strain) Javier Calle: Questionable (Left Adductor Strain) Tony Taylor: Out (ACL reconstruction and LCL repair) George John: Out (knee micro-fracture).

According the NYCFC's game notes, both Velazquez and Grabavoy will start on the wings, with Shelton and Villa up front. Mix and Ballouchy will play the mid. Wingert, Hernandez, Brovsky, and Williams make up the back four with Saunders in goal. 

Much has been made about the first ever New York Derby, with supporters of both sides getting nasty on the Twittersphere as well as on New York radio. While the official New York Red Bulls twitter and website had made jabs towards NYCFC in fun spirits before the match, there were no responses from NYCFC's side. A club who has tried to save face, the club was not going to risk anything just for banter. In fact, until the club released its match preview late in the week, there had been no mention of the match or the Red Bulls by the club. 

While the match will be at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, NYCFC will be taking many of their supporters across the river with them. NYCFC sold out their away section, with all 1,500 seats sold before the start of the week. Many other NYCFC fans that were unable to purchase in the official away section have bought seats all over Red Bull Arena, so expect a real nasty and lively atmosphere in Harrison on Sunday. 

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About the author
Josef Leizerowitz
Credentialed football writer covering Manchester City, Manchester United, and International Football.