Red Bulls Getting Ready For Chivas

As the 2025 Leagues Cup is already underway, we have seen Liga MX sides taking advantage in the first games of the group stage. So far, CF Montreal has taken the victory through the shootout against Club Leon. While waiting to see what the second day of games brings, we all know what’s coming for the New York Red Bulls. A big matchup against one of Mexico’s most historic clubs in Guadalajara Chivas.

The last time these two sides met in meaningful competition was the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League Semi-Finals as the goats of Mexico scored only one goal in the two legs, and held off the Red Bulls at home in the second leg at Sports Illustrated STadium when the club had players like Bradley Wright-Phillips, Luis Robles, Daniel Royer, and when Kaku transferred over from Argentine side Hurican.

As always, Guadalajara will come in with tremendous support as all of their fans travel well, and those who live in the New York City area will arrive wearing their Chivas jerseys, just like the last time in that Champions League match. Without a doubt, this will be a big battle against one of the best sides in all of Mexico, even if they have started four matches into their current Apertura Season.

“They are very aggressive, and we saw yesterday the games in the Leagues Cup, so a lot of really good teams from the Mexican league with a lot of good players, and they are very aggressive. So they have a new coach for the last two games. What we analyzed before it’s a little bit different the structure, but now what they are playing is with transition, with speed. So we have to be very aggressive,” said Head Coach Sandro Schwarz, “We have to be very compact, and what we did in the past, most of the time, which is always very important, the first step and the last step. So that’s important. The first step means, okay, you are active, and the last step means you play intensively. And this is what we need for tomorrow, but to have also then the confidence.

“I think this is what we have to improve. And everyone has seen it, in the last game, in our transition moments when we win the ball. So we had so many situations where we win the ball in the opponent’s half in our midfield press, and then to play very, very clean in our transitions, and then to create our moments, our chances.”

For the Red Bulls, now that they are in Leagues Cup action, they can take a break from their League season. Still, the hope is that they can move past their previous issues and come out swinging to challenge these teams from Liga MX, as they will travel to Cincinnati to face Monterrey and then back at home against FC Juarez. Sandro knows what their mindset needs.

“We start tomorrow with the first game in the Leagues Cup. But I think now in our situation it is more to have the focus day by day and to see tomorrow also as a chance, as an opportunity for us to bring our performance, to bring that we have our confidence, to bring back in our quality, the belief in our quality. I think that’s the main part. And not to talk too much about the last game after the Chicago game. Okay, now it’s the Leagues Cup, and we want to win this trophy.

Of course, we want to be very successful. But for me, the success starts then with the first duel, with the first pass, and with the first sprint. I think that’s the main part. And this is for me, tomorrow again, of course, the Leagues Cup, and so against the Mexican team, that’s new. We didn’t play so many times in the season against the Mexican teams, or the last time in last year’s Leagues Cup.

So that’s different. We have 23 players in our roster. That’s good. So the group is together, most of the players in our group, and that’s it. But for me, it’s more to have the focus in our quality, in our performance, and tomorrow a game that’s good to create our atmosphere, and that’s a big chance for us.”

The hope right now is to see this team turn things around and attempt to start a winning streak again, and bring that back into league play, and when they head back to Chester to take on the Union for the US Open Cup Quarterfinal match. This club needs a victory, and in the worst way, if they can attempt a surprise against this club, then it would speak volumes and be a much-needed shot in the arm on Thursday night.

⚽ ATHENS WOMEN’S FOOTBALL SUMMIT 2025 ⚽

September 25-26, 2025 | Athens, Greece

THE GLOBAL HOME OF THE WOMEN’S FOOTBALL INDUSTRY

Join the world’s premier gathering of women’s football stakeholders! Connect with top executives, clubs, leagues, governing bodies, and industry leaders driving the healthy, long-term, economically-sound global growth of women’s football.

🌟 What Awaits You:

• Industry-leading panels and networking
• Change drivers of the beautiful game
• Investment opportunities and partnerships
• Educational sessions from top executives
• INVEST! EMPOWER! INSPIRE! WIN!

🎯 Learn More:www.athenswfs.com

Bad Dawg Sports is proud to be an official partner of the Athens Women’s Football Summit. From the boardroom to the pitch, we’re covering the stories that shape women’s football globally.