Twenty-two games into the season and the Union are separated by only two points from New England Revolution. Those two points are magnified, however, when they are the difference between resting above or below the playoff line.
Get on the good foot
So if you’re looking for one good reason to watch the Union and Revs face off this weekend, how about momentum? A run of six straight games against Eastern Conference opponents — including two against a revitalized Teal Bunbury and his New England teammates — could begin with Philly leapfrogging their neighbors to the north and keeping close tabs on Montreal. Remi Garde’s Impact will complete this streak of Eastern Conference showdowns when they travel to Philadelphia in mid-September. That match — like the one against the Revs this weekend — could be a huge battle for playoff position.
Possess through the press
Another reason to check this match out? It offers a chance to see if the Union can continue to excel against teams that rely heavily on an aggressive high pressure system. Jim Curtin’s men have been one of the more successful teams against New York Red Bulls this season, and while the Revs use a far different style of pressure, they will constantly attack high up the pitch. Philly’s Ale Bedoya and Haris Medunjanin will need to dictate a fast pace to the passing game to allow Philly’s possession game to thrive on the road.
And once you get through that high press? The Revs have a fairly soft underbelly to attack.
Winged wingers
Both teams deploy absurd speed on the left flank, and the match may hinge on whether Fafa Picault can get the better of Andrew Farrell more often than Cristian Penilla breaks free of Keegan Rosenberry. Penilla’s nine goals and five assists are impressive returns for a first year wingman, but the Ecuadorian is asked to move the ball into the final third far less than his counterpart in Philly. Picault’s four goals and three assists put him on pace to surpass last year’s returns, and with the Revs releasing Farrell forward in attack, there will be space to attack up that side.
The Union travel to Gillette Stadium to face New England on August 11 at 7:30PM EST.
