MLS
What is MLS Rivalry Week and who is playing?
There are five thrilling derby matches this weekend that could prove crucial in the race for the MLS playoff spots.
MLS Rivalry Week kicks off on Saturday with a series of thrilling derby matches in the pipeline for soccer fans. We are now approaching Matchday 12, meaning that the two conference standings are taking shape and we can now tell the front-runners from the strugglers.
Rivalry Week begin on Saturday 13 May and will run until Saturday 20 May, covering two MLS matchdays. Here are the derby fixtures coming up this weekend...
Matchday 12 - Rivalry Week
- CF Montréal vs Toronto FC
- New York Red Bulls vs New York City FC
- Atlanta United vs Charlotte FC
- Austin FC vs FC Dallas
- LA Galaxy vs San Jose Earthquakes
If you want a little more information on the teams involved this weekend, we take a look at three of the biggest games from this weekend’s Rivalry Week fixtures.
CF Montréal vs Toronto FC
Saturday 13 May, 7:30 pm ET
First up is a big derby north of the border and a rematch of the Canadian Champions quarter-finals on Tuesday. Toronto are currently 13th in the Eastern Conference, two places behind Montréal, and have struggled with inconsistency this campaign.
In stark contrast Montréal have won three games on the bounce and Bryce Duke will be hoping that he team can keep up their good form against their Canadian rivals.
New York Red Bulls vs New York City FC
Saturday 13 May, 7:30 pm ET
The battle for bragging right in the Big Apple also kicks off on Saturday night and the NY Red Bulls will be desperate for a positive outcome in front of their own supporters. They got off to an awful start this campaign and are rooted at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with just one win in 11 games.
NYC FC, on the other hand, are nicely positioned in fifth, just three points away from Nashville in third. Can they keep their good run going on the road this weekend?
LA Galaxy vs San Jose Earthquakes
Saturday 13 May, 7:30 pm ET
On the other coast there’s a fascinating battle between two sides who have had drastically different starts to the 2023 season. In the 2022 season the San Jose Earthquakes finished dead last in the Eastern Conference, while California rivals LA Galaxy finished fifth and made it to the semi-finals of the MLS Cup.
The tables have certainly turned this year and it is Galaxy who find themselves at the foot of the table with owners rumoured to be considering a change in the club’s head coach and president. The Galaxy have won just once in their ten games this season and have struggled to utilise the talents of Riqui Puig.
The Earthquake, however, have gone from strength to strength under new coach Luchi Gonzalez and now harbour real ambitions of reaching the playoffs. Look out for winger Cristian Espinoza who has taken his game to another level this campaign. The 28-year-old is currently the joint-top goal scorer in MLS.