Previewing Philadelphia Union at New England Revolution in MLS Matchday 3: “We set the standard and we now have to uphold ourselves to these standards”
“You can see the synchronicity between our group right now, the guys are having fun and they’ve caught an appetite for the way we’re playing at the moment” – Philadelphia Union Head Coach, Bradley Carnell
A Bruno Damiani debut goal, a Tai Baribo Hat-Trick, and a demanding 4-1 Home Opener win against FC Cincinnati moves Union to 2-0 on the 2025 season, and top of the Eastern Conference standings after 2 games, a start to the year no one saw coming. But Union Head Coach Bradley Carnell knows a win and Team of the Matchday honors in the 2nd week of the season mean nothing if they can’t follow it up with a strong performance in Matchday 3.
Up next for the U? Caleb Porter and the New England Revolution
Image Credit: Philadelphia Union
How to watch Union vs New England Revolution
When: Saturday, March 8th @ 7:30 pm Where: Gillette Stadium – Foxxborough, NE Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+
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Philadelphia Union vs New England Revolution Betting Odds
New England (Home): +145 Philadelphia (Away): +160 Draw: +235
Best Union Bets:
Preview By The Numbers
Current Form – Last 2 Games
Philadelphia Union: W, W
New England: D, L
Expected Goals:
Philadelphia: 6.04 xG (2nd best)
New England: 0.86 xG (Last in MLS)
Total Goals Scored:
Philadelphia Union: 8 goals scored (1st best)
New England: 0 goals scored (Last in MLS)
Expected Conceded Goals:
Philadelphia: 3.4 xGA (T-16th best)
New England: 1.3 xGA (4th best)
Goals Conceded:
Philadelphia Union: 3 goals conceded (T-4th best)
New England: 1 goal conceded(T-2nd best)
Top Goal-Scorers:
Philadelphia: Baribo – 5, Damiani, Uhre, Gazdag – 1
New England: NA
Top Assists Leaders:
Philadelphia Union: Q. Sullivan, K. Wagner – 3, Gazdag – 2, Westfield – 1
New England: NA
Image Credit: Philadelphia Union
New England’s 2025 Season So Far
“It’s a squad that has I think 18 new players, obviously a very brutal and lethal strike force in [Leo] Campana and Carles Gil, they have [Luca] Langoni down the right-hand side, he’s one of the quickest players in the league…so we have to be weary of all their weapons.” – Bradley Carnell on New England Revolution
Caleb Porter’s revamped Revs haven’t gotten off to a great start in 2025, drawing to a lackluster Nashville side 0-0 in the opening weekend of the MLS season, and losing by a score of 1-0 to Caleb Porter’s former team, the Columbus Crew, in Matchday 2.
Despite New England having former MLS Best XI and All-Star Carles Gil in the midfield, dangerous Argentinian Luca Langoni on the right, and former Inter Miami striker Leo Campana up top, New England have failed to score in the opening 2 games of the season, and have amassed the lowest Expected Goals total of any MLS team with just 0.86xG in 2025.
At the same time, while New England is struggling to create chances early on in the season, they’ve managed to do relatively well on the defensive side of the ball, totaling the 4th best Expected Goals Allowed in all of MLS through 2 weeks, and allowing just 1 goal in 2 games.
“They don’t give much away either, their Expected Goals against is 4th best in the Leaguer for example, they put a lot of pressure on the ball. I think it’s gonna be a very tight game, 2 very athletic teams going at each other, we respect the opponent very much and I know exactly how difficult Caleb’s [Porter] teams can be to play against” – Bradley Carnell
Image Credit: Philadelphia Union
New England Revolution Predicted Starting XI
Two games into the season, and Caleb Porter has run out the same Starting XI in both matches, and barring injuries I think we’ll see something pretty similar on Saturday. While Tomás Chancalay (Knee), and Peyton Miller (Groin) look to still be out for NER this weekend, CB Matt Polster might be getting closer to make a return – but I don’t think he’s ready to make a start this weekend. Here’s how I see the Revs lining up:
“Would I like to see more chances? Yes, in those transitions, in those opportunities and moments where we can get on the ball and control the game in front half. Keep more of that. But no, I’m not worried, because, to answer your question, we have players that can score goals.” -Revolution Head Coach, Caleb Porter on failing to score in the first 2 games of the season.
Image Credit: Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union Predicted Starting XI
Markus Anderson will miss out with an injury against the Revs, and Ian Glavinovich is day-to-day as he gets back to full fitness from his hamstring injury, but should be available. Nate Harriel will also be available on Saturday night, but due to missing a lot of pre-season, it sounds like Harriel is still ramping up to speed and as such I think Carnell will stick to the same starting XI on Saturday night.
Bruno Damiani, Union’s new record signing Forward, will be itching to make his first start after netting his first goal for the U in his debut off the bench against FCC last weekend, but may need to show some patients for that moment with the way Union’s front line is currently performing, and Bradley Carnell doesn’t mind that inner-squad competition
“As long as the guys are fit and healthy and driving each other to new heights, I think everyone would sign up for this position they’re in right now, to be scoring goals, working hard, creating, getting assists, being part of a group that’s connected and having fun” – Bradley Carnell
Image Credit: Philadelphia Union
Quotes from Carnell
Union’s game-plan isn’t going to change much against the Revs. They’re going to pressure the ball carrier, look for their moments to press as a team to try to win the ball high up the pitch, and then look spring the transition the other way with quick, direct passes that lead to opportunities on net. Scoring 8 goals in the first 2 games is a great start, but Carnell thinks the defense can tighten things up, and the opportunity to score goals could become even more plentiful as a result.
“The better we defend, the more chances we are going to create and get, that’s just the way we go about it. To see that it’s working so quickly is into the season sets a standard really high, and we said it in Monday in training, we set the standard now and we now have to uphold ourselves to these standards and we live and die by this every single day.” – Bradley Carnell
With a 2-0 start to the season, a +5 goal differential, and Tai Baribo, Quinn Sullivan, and Bradley Carnell all receiving Team of the Matchday honors in Matchday 2, Union will have a bit of a larger target on their backs moving forward. Bradley Carnell knows they’ve got to keep building on the solid start they’ve had to the 2025 season or it’s all for nothing, and that starts with trying to get 3 points on the road this weekend against the Revs.
“There is a sort of atmosphere around the building here, there is sort of a belief in this building that we are very competitive, I would say, but that doesn’t mean anything after 2 match days, right? We can get all the accolades now, but after 2 match days it doesn’t mean anything. So it’s just now building a mentality and a drive and a desire to clean the slate every Monday and we start again and we go again and we drive. Those [six] points are in the bank, now we start from 0 again and try to move forward” – Bradley Carnell
Image Credit: Philadelphia Union
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