The Bent Musket predicts: Revolution vs DC United

After a 17-day international break for the World Cup, the Revs are ready to get back to work. They welcome I-95 rival DC United to Gillette for the first and only time this season. The Red and Black have been a team without a home, playing ten of their first twelve matches on the road. Another three weeks of travel before their new residence, Audi Field, opens in July, and then they close out their season with 15 of 22 matches on their new pitch.

The Revs kick off their second half of the 2018 season with three straight at home before becoming road warriors themselves, with 10 of their final 15 matches outside of New England. Can New England solidify its playoff standing by grabbing full points at Gillette against bottom-dwellers DC United?

If we run the often-fruitless exercise of comparing results vs common opponents at the same venue, here’s how it looks:

Away at CLB: Revs D DC United L

Home vs CLB: Revs L DC United W

Away at PHI: Revs L DC United L

Away at SJ: Revs D DC United W

So overall, New England is 0-2-2 and DC United is 2-2-0 against the same clubs at the same venue thus far in 2018...for what it’s worth.

Here’s what The Bent Musket staff thinks will happen this weekend:

Seth: Revs 3, DC 1

Comment: This is a must-win game for the Revolution and I think they get it done in easy fashion. Sure, DC United have been a bogey team in recent years, but this is a new-look Revolution. Brad Friedel will surely have his boys ready to play at home against a United team that’s waiting to officially add Wayne Rooney.

Tony: Revs 2 DC 1

Comment: New England hasn’t had much success against DC United recently, even at home where they’ve drawn three straight times. I really feel DC is better than their record indicates because they’ve played so many matches on the road. They counterattack well, which could expose New England’s subpar backline. However, I’m giving a slight edge to the Revs since it’s a home match, and I feel like their pressure can generate a couple of goals somehow.

Sean: Revs 3 DC 0

Comment: Coming back after the World Cup break, I fully predict that the Revs will come out strong at home. The Revs haven’t picked up as many points as they’d hope in years past against DC, meaning the Revs will look to turn the script at Gillette. With the announcement of DC signing Wayne Rooney, you can expect that could serve as a distraction for the squad to work in the Revs favor.

Summary

NE win: 3

DC win: 0

Draw: 0

Point allocation: Correct result = 3 Correct score (both) = 2 Correct score (one) = 1

What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below!