Chattanooga vs New York RB II Predicted Lineups and Team News

Chattanooga welcome New York RB II to Finley Stadium in a compelling MLS Next Pro Group Stage clash, with both sides firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Chattanooga come into this round sitting on 19 points from 12 matches, ranked 7th in the Eastern Conference and 4th in the Central Division. Their record is strikingly binary: 6 wins, 6 losses, no draws, with 21 goals scored and 21 conceded, underlining just how high-variance their season has been so far.

New York RB II arrive as one of the conference pace-setters. They top the Northeast Division and sit 2nd in the Eastern Conference with 25 points from 12 games, built on 8 wins and just 4 defeats. They have been more prolific and slightly tighter at the back than Chattanooga, scoring 26 and conceding 16 for a +10 goal difference. Their away numbers are especially impressive: 4 wins from 5 on the road, with 8 goals scored and only 5 conceded.

Recent head-to-head history also leans towards the visitors. New York RB II thrashed Chattanooga 5–2 at MSU Soccer Park in June 2025, while Chattanooga edged the 2024 meeting at Finley Stadium on penalties after a 1–1 draw in regular time. With both teams showing 60% form over their last five matches and the underlying metrics rating New York RB II slightly stronger in attack, this fixture has genuine stakes in the playoff race. That makes the predicted lineups and expected starting lineup particularly important for assessing where this game could be decided.

Chattanooga Team News & Expected Lineups Today

There are no confirmed absences listed for Chattanooga ahead of this fixture. With no significant injuries or suspensions reported, the coaching staff should have close to a full squad to choose from, an important factor for a side that has been inconsistent but dangerous at home. Chattanooga’s home record (4 wins and 2 defeats, 11 scored and 9 conceded) suggests an aggressive, front-foot approach at Finley Stadium, and that is likely to be reflected in the expected lineup.

Given their all-or-nothing results pattern and an attacking average of 1.8 goals per match, Chattanooga are expected to set up with a clear emphasis on transition and vertical play. With a deep pool of attackers and mobile midfielders, the manager is likely to lean on pace and direct running in wide and central channels rather than a conservative, possession-heavy structure.

Chattanooga Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: E. Jakupović
DF: M. Hanchard, N. Koehler, T. Robertson, F. Sar-Sar
MF: S. Louis, A. McGrath, Damien Barker John, D. Ortiz
FW: D. Mangarov, A. Garcia

This predicted lineup balances Chattanooga’s experienced core with their more dynamic young attackers. In goal, veteran E. Jakupović is the logical pick, bringing high-level experience and composure behind a back line built around the defensive quartet of M. Hanchard, N. Koehler, T. Robertson and F. Sar-Sar. That group provides a blend of physicality and mobility, key against a New York RB II side that averages 2.3 goals per game overall.

In midfield, S. Louis and A. McGrath offer a solid platform: Louis as a ball-winner and connector, McGrath as a more experienced presence capable of dictating tempo. Ahead of them, Damien Barker John and D. Ortiz give Chattanooga ball-carrying and creative threat between the lines, crucial for linking play into the front two. Up front, D. Mangarov and A. Garcia are expected to lead the line; with Chattanooga averaging 1.8 goals per match and often strong at home, this pair should be tasked with stretching New York RB II’s back line and attacking early in both halves, where Chattanooga have historically found joy.

New York RB II Team News & Expected Lineups Today

New York RB II also report no confirmed injuries or suspensions ahead of the trip to Chattanooga. With no significant absences reported, the visitors can rotate or field their strongest available side, a major advantage given their intense, high-energy playing identity. Their away form – 4 wins and just 1 defeat, with 8 goals scored and 5 conceded – underlines how well they travel, and that should shape how their lineups today are constructed.

Stats suggest New York RB II will again lean into an aggressive, pressing-heavy approach, looking to dominate the middle third and create quick attacking transitions. Their attack has been one of the most productive in MLS Next Pro this season, with 27 league goals and a strong spread of scoring minutes across the 16–30, 61–75 and 76–90 ranges. With that in mind, the expected lineup is likely to feature a balanced defensive unit, an energetic midfield, and multiple runners in the final third.

New York RB II Predicted Lineups & Starting Lineup

Predicted Starting XI:
GK: A. Causey
DF: J. Bazán, J. Mina, O. Valencia, Shunya Sakai
MF: N. Benedetti, A. Jarvis, M. Morigi, N. Worth
FW: Roald Mitchell, D. Gjengaar

In goal, A. Causey is the most established option in a young goalkeeping group and is therefore expected to start. The defensive line is built around J. Bazán and O. Valencia, who bring age and experience relative to the rest of the back line, with J. Mina adding physical presence and Shunya Sakai completing the unit. Sakai is particularly notable: he appears across the league’s top metrics for goals, assists and cards, indicating that he is heavily involved in both defensive and attacking phases. His role as an overlapping or ball-playing defender will be central to New York RB II’s build-up and wide threat.

The midfield four of N. Benedetti, A. Jarvis, M. Morigi and N. Worth gives the visitors a high-energy core. Benedetti and Morigi can operate as box-to-box options, while Jarvis and Worth provide technical quality and pressing from advanced midfield positions. Up front, Roald Mitchell and D. Gjengaar are logical picks to spearhead the attack from a strong forward pool. With New York RB II averaging 2.6 goals per game at home and 1.8 away, this front pairing should ensure they maintain a consistent goal threat and can exploit Chattanooga’s tendency to concede in the 61–75 and 76–90 minute windows.

Injuries and Suspended Players Impact

With both squads listed without confirmed absences, the tactical story of this match is less about who is missing and more about how each coach uses a full group to manage intensity and in-game adjustments. The lack of suspensions or long-term injuries means both sides can tailor their benches to specific game states, whether chasing the match or protecting a lead.

Chattanooga Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

New York RB II Absences:

• No significant absences reported.

Tactical Analysis: How the Lineups Match Up

This contest shapes up as a clash between Chattanooga’s volatile, high-variance profile and New York RB II’s more structured attacking power. Chattanooga’s season-long numbers show they score and concede at virtually identical rates (1.8 scored, 1.8 conceded on average), and their goals for and against are spread fairly evenly across the match, with a slight vulnerability after the hour mark. That suggests a side that can hurt opponents in bursts but can also be opened up, particularly as legs tire.

New York RB II, by contrast, have a more consistent attacking output. Their goals are well-distributed across all phases of the match, with notable spikes in the 16–30, 61–75 and 76–90 minute ranges. That pattern aligns with a high-press, high-intensity approach that wears opponents down. In the predicted lineups, the battle between Chattanooga’s front pair of D. Mangarov and A. Garcia and New York RB II’s back line anchored by O. Valencia and Shunya Sakai will be crucial. If Chattanooga can pin back Sakai and limit his forward runs, they may blunt one of New York RB II’s key outlets. Conversely, in midfield, the energy of N. Benedetti and M. Morigi against the more balanced pairing of S. Louis and A. McGrath could tilt the central battle in favour of the visitors, especially in transition.

Match Prediction and Verdict

All indicators point to New York RB II having the edge, but not by a large margin. Comparison metrics rate the visitors higher overall (around 60% to 40%), with a stronger attack and similar defensive levels. Head-to-head form is also on their side, with an 80% edge in previous meetings and a recent 5–2 win. At the same time, Chattanooga’s strong home record and their ability to score in clusters mean this is unlikely to be a straightforward away win.

Prediction models lean towards New York RB II avoiding defeat, with a “win or draw” outlook and equal probabilities assigned to an away win and a draw. The goals projections are conservative, indicating a match that may not explode into a high-scoring shootout despite both teams’ attacking numbers. Factoring in Chattanooga’s home strength and New York RB II’s superior consistency, a narrow away success or a hard-fought draw looks most plausible.

Predicted Outcome: Chattanooga 1–2 New York RB II

How to Watch Chattanooga vs New York RB II Worldwide

Here is how you can watch the match and see the official lineups today live:

• Spain: Local sports network / streaming platform
• UK: Domestic football streaming service
• USA / North America: National soccer broadcaster or league streaming platform
• South America: Regional sports channel or OTT service
• MENA: Pan-regional sports network or digital platform