Preview, projected lineups and how to watch Union vs New England Revolution

Are you ready for some futbol? The Philadelphia Union are back in Foxborough for still another match against their favorite 2020 opponent: Bruce Arena and the New England Revolution.

Tonight’s game will mark the fourth meeting between the two teams in 2020. The first match was a 1-0 Union win in the knockouts of the MLS is Back Tournament and the other two matches counted as 4 points in the regular season standings for the boys in blue.

The lone goal conceded in the three previous meetings was to rookie Tajon Buchanan in the 81st minute in the Union’s 2-1 win at Subaru Park on September 12. The two teams played to a scoreless draw the last time they met at Foxborough Stadium in the first game of the regular season post-MLS is Back on August 20.

The Union will be looking to rebound from a disappointing result against D.C. United. Though Mark McKenzie scored the Goal of the Week to tie the game late, the Union lost their captain for tonight to a yellow card suspension and missed an opportunity to gain ground on first place Toronto FC. Toronto is six points clear of the Union now so any dropped points will make chasing that top seed and Champions League berth harder.

While Alejandro Bedoya will be out with a second yellow card suspension this season, tonight could mark the return of Cory Burke for the first time since last April. Burke at best will be available to come off the bench but getting him back is a big lift for the front line, which has seen Kacper Przybylko scuffling a bit of late.

Jose Martinez still be out quarantining from his trip for national team duty and Warren Creavalle still injured leaves open the possibility that Jim Curtin will put Jack Elliott at the 6 in a 4-4-2. Another option would be to play Ilsinho out wide in a 4-2-3-1 and have Jamiro Monteiro and Anthony Fontana or Brenden Aaronson in the double pivot but that would mean starting the veteran Ilsinho on a turf field with a game against Toronto FC on Saturday. Cole Turner and Matej Oravec have played a combined 3 minutes this season so they seem like less of an option to start at the 6 but the next man up philosophy would indicate it’s up to one of them to step up.

Another option might be to play a 3-5-2 with Elliott, Jakob Glesnes and Mark McKenzie in the back, a midfield three of Monteiro, Aaronson and Fontana and Ray Gaddis and Kai Wagner pushing up as wing backs. For the Ray haters out there, maybe giving Olivier Mbaizo another start at right back would work better in that formation if that’s the case.

No matter how the lineup shakes out it’s going to be a tough road match playing a New England team that is very familiar with what the Union want to do. It wouldn’t be surprising if this one comes down to one play determining whether the Union get just a point, all three or return home staring at a six-point deficit for first place in the standings.

How to Watch

Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
When: 7:30 p.m., Monday, October 19
TV: PHL 17
Streaming: PhiladelphiaUnion.com in market; ESPN+ out-of-market
Radio: Fox Sports The Gambler 1480 AM and 105.3 HD2
Audio Streaming: IHeart Radio App, Fox Sports The Gambler

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Projected Starting Lineup

Philadelphia Union: 4-4-2 - Andre Blake, Kai Wagner, Mark McKenzie, Jakob Glesnes, Ray Gaddis, Jack Elliott, Jamiro Monteiro, Brenden Aaronson, Anthony Fontana, Sergio Santos, Kacper Przybylko

New England Revolution (via MLSSoccer.com): 4-2-3-1 - Matt Turner, Alexander Büttner, Henry Kessler, Andrew Farrell, Brandon Bye, Scott Caldwell, Tommy McNamara, Lee Nguyen, Teal Bunbury, Tajon Buchanan, Adam Buksa

Injuries/Absences

Philadelphia Union
Injury Report: OUT: Warren Creavalle (M) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: Alejandro Bedoya (M)
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

New England Revolution
Injury Report:
OUT: Luis Caicedo (M) - right knee injury
OUT: Carles Gil (M) - left Achilles injury
OUT: Cristian Penilla (F) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None