New York Red Bulls: First playoff matchup will likely be against a familiar foe

The New York Red Bulls have already punched their ticket to the MLS Cup playoffs and are guaranteed a top-two seed. There are still things undecided but it looks like the road to the MLS Cup goes through some familiar foes.

The New York Red Bulls have been so extraordinary all season long that there are still two games left and they already clinched a top two seed and a first-round bye in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The New York Red Bulls, right now sit as the Eastern Conference’s second seed. They sit one point behind Atlanta United, who they have never lost too, and both squads have played the same amount of games.

However, the weak schedules that both teams face in their last two matches are nothing to be too worried about. This also means a third Red Bulls Supporters’ Shield is long-shot at this point.

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The Red Bulls will have a tough time gaining that extra point on Atlanta. The crazy thing is the Red Bulls might break the record for most points scored by an MLS Team in a season and still not win the Shield.

This is already their most successful season in franchise season based on wins and points earned.

So, with the Shield race set where it is, that is still something to play for, but the big picture cannot be lost here.

It is time for the New York Red Bulls to play their best soccer and get into playoff form. The road in the playoffs, however, already seems to have the Red Bulls play a familiar foe.

Right now, the Red Bulls are in a spot where they would potentially play NYCFC. The Red Bulls would face NYCFC in a home-home conference semi-final if that were to happen, all would stay close to the Hudson River.

But remember, DC and NYC are really the Red Bulls’ only rivals. That’s it. Those are teams where there is a real rival type feeling.

Again, there is a chance this doesn’t happen, but it is likely they will have to battle New York City or even Philadelphia Union, who they are also familiar with to advance to the Conference Final.

That is possible if DC beats NYCFC. That would likely give the Red Bulls the Union or Columbus Crew.

The fact that Red Bulls would have to see NYCFC, Philly, or even DC United again this season, this time for it all, has its pros and cons.

The one team, however, that should worry Red Bulls supporters most is DC United. They could eventually meet  in the playoffs later and they have played the Red Bulls tough all year.

Without Bradley Wright-Phillips, the Red Bulls likely don’t have as many points as they do for he took over in two of the three matches they played each other.

As for NYCFC, the Red Bulls are historically better than NYCFC, but if they play the Boys in Blue in a playoff game in Yankee Stadium, which they would if it lined up as such, there is a reason for concern.

The Red Bulls have struggled on the road vs NYCFC this year, and both of those matches were played like the MLS Playoff matches would be. Not a lot of goals, chippy, playing for their lives, any result is better than none type soccer.

The Red Bulls have proved time and time again this season that they can overcome anything.

Plus, they have the luxury or never knowing who is going to strike next for them, so it is hard to prepare.

But, at the end of the day, facing a familiar foe like DC, NYCFC, or Philadelphia Union wouldn’t be as comfortable as playing someone else.

There is still an off-chance the Red Bulls end up playing Columbus Crew, or even the Montreal Impact, who they wouldn’t have seen as much this year, but that all depends on if the Red Bulls end up the one seed and who wins the knock-out rounds.

There is no way of knowing how that would go, but the Red Bulls can beat all of these teams when putting all other circumstances to the side.

Either way, there is a high chance the Red Bulls will have to go through teams they are overly familiar with like NYCFC, Philly, or even D.C or Atlanta in the conference final.

It is helpful that the Red Bulls are guaranteed games at Red Bull Arena these playoffs where they have been more than spectacular this year.

But, the home pitch advantage does not help as much if the opponent has been there so many times like DC or NYCFC has.

The next two weeks in the MLS determine a lot.

Nothing is official until the table is final and the Playoff bracket is set.

However, there is no way of knowing if facing a familiar foe is beneficial or harmful for the Red Bulls yet.

Nothing has worked for this team historically in their quest for the MLS Cup. This 2018 team is supposed to be different, but now it is time to wait and see.

Until the international break is over, enjoy these photos of the Red Bull players playing football:

They don’t seem too nervous about who they have to play in the playoffs to me.