RBNY Face Toughest Test Yet With Inter Miami Waiting on Saturday

While Inter Miami haven't fully hit the ground running to start their MLS Cup defense in 2026, they still a pose a greater threat than any team in this league.

Yes, they are out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup and have one win in their last five games, but they also have Lionel Messi. And a lot of other very good players but mainly Messi.

Jokes aside, the Red Bulls will have their work cut out for them on Saturday. Miami may not be regularly slaughtering its opponents like some would expect them to, but they are still one of the most talented and well-rounded teams assembled in MLS history.

Their one loss on the year came on the first night of the season, a 3-0 humbling at the hands of Son Heung Min and LAFC. Since then, they've gone unbeaten but are still yet to thump anybody decisively and grab a hold of the headlines. History has shown that they could very well provide their first battering of the season against RBNY.

Miami has outscored the Red Bulls 15-4 in their last three meetings.

And having drawn at home last week against Austin FC, they'll surely want to bring home the first win at their new stadium. Expecting a fully motivated Inter Miami on Saturday.

RBNY should feel good about its latest 4-2 win over Cincinnati. Yes, they were left exposed at times throughout the game, but the attack came alive to create four goals and in multiple different ways.

Cade Cowell set up Julian Hall for his fifth goal in six games, becoming the youngest player in MLS history to achieve that. Not to mention, Cowell's assist was his first goal contribution all season, and it would've been the first of two if not for a deflection by Cincy defender Kyle Smith.

Emil Forsberg had a first of his own, scoring a spectacular free kick for his opening goal of the season. Substitute Mohammed Sofo added a howitzer in second half stoppage time to seal the win. A complete performance that deserved three points.

There were certainly moments for Cincy to climb their way back into the game and the Red Bulls were lucky not to concede one or two more. But the same could be said the other way around, mostly because New York was able to exploit their opponent's weaknesses in the wide areas of defense. This time, they actually found the back of the net more than once.

And as the game opened up, the Red Bulls' midfield became more crucial to preserving the lead. Ronald Donkor led the way with some incredible transition football while Forsberg and young phenom Adri Mehmeti locked things down defensively.

The defense was equally as impressive through most of the game, barring an early Cincy counter attack that resulted in Pavel Bucha's goal and an errant clearance by Dylan Nealis (who returned from injury) that provided an unmissable opportunity for Smith in the second half.

The problem is that Inter Miami's up next, so the game could look very similar and swing back and forth. Messi and Miami could really do some damage when the game swings their way.