It’s the beginning of May and this weekend poses some interesting matchups in the universe. Saturday is Star Wars Day, so watch MLS you can while celebrating some of your favorite characters. There are 3 matches between Eastern Conference teams that should have you ready to blast off, so let’s take a look at what matchups are worth the credits.
D.C. United vs. Philadelphia Union
Saturday, May 4, 7:30pm (MLS Season Pass)
This is a match where MLS wants to promote it as a major rivalry. However, this rivalry is like Ezra Bridger against Darth Maul: they may be rivals but it appears to be more friendly than one would let on. However for D.C. United, lately this has not been much of a rivalry. The Black-and-Red have only 1 win against Philadelphia since the 2016 season, which is a terrible stretch. They will want to get off the ground running in their first match of the season against their I-95 rivals because currently, they are both level in the standings on 13 points. Philadelphia is in 7th place courtesy of 2 games in hand, but a win for the Union would really put them in a position to make another run at the top half of the standings.
Prediction: Philadelphia has DC’s number, and it’s a tough battle at Audi Field. Christian Benteke gets another goal, but it’s a 2-1 win for the Union.
Inter Miami vs. New York Red Bulls – Saturday, May 4th, 7:30pm (MLS Season Pass)
This is a matchup against 2 of the top teams in the East, with Miami in 1st with 21 points and the Red Bulls sitting in 3rd with 17 points. Lionel Messi is on a tear and the Red Bulls will do all it can to be the Resistance. The Red Bulls have looked good early in the season and they hope they can make a Mandalorian 1st season kind of run, but with Miami loading up on some of the best players, it will be hard to disrupt the current Empire.
Prediction: Miami gets another 2 goal contributions from Messi, and Suarez adds 1 in a 3-1 victory.
Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution – Saturday, May 4th, 8:30pm (MLS Season Pass)
Remember at the beginning of the season where the New England Revolution was getting some talk about how they were rebuilding into a team that could challenge in the East? Well, they’ve gone the way of Finn, getting top billing very early on and now being reduced to being in the very back. They’re dead last in the East with 4 points and they go up against Chicago, a team sitting in 12th with 10 points. Chicago really doesn’t want the rest of the Resistance to go on without them, so they need a Greef Karga-type emergence very quickly or they will be lost in space at the bottom of the standings.
Prediction: Chicago gets it done at home, winning 2-0.