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• New England Revolution v Philadelphia Union: Porter urges players to cut out errors

  Caleb Porter accepts New England Revolution must cut out the individual errors if they are to return to winning ways against Philadelphia Union.

  The Revs went down 4-2 to New York Red Bulls last time out to make it four defeats in their last five games, and eight losses in 11 overall this season in MLS.

  New England are bottom of the Eastern Conference, but Porter hopes lessons have been learned ahead of hosting Philadelphia on Saturday.

  "Three of the four [goals NYRB scored] were individual mistakes that are easily correctable," Porter told The Blazing Musket. "We've gone to the training ground and corrected a few of those situation.

  "But it's just individuals in those moments have to be better. It wasn't a bad team-defending performance, but three of the four goals we gave up were routine."

  The Union have double the number of points compared to their opponents, having played one game more, as they occupy ninth place in the East.

  The Us are themselves not in great form, though, as they lost 2-1 at home to New York City FC in their most recent game - a contest overshadowed by a raccoon that entered the field. 

  They have just two points from the past 18 on offer, meanwhile, and head coach Jim Curtin admits it is on him and his players to turn things around.

  "The guys fight until the end, and we have to find a way to get out of this," Curtin said. "We're the only people that are going to get us out of it. 

  "The people in that locker room, the coaches, the players, they recognise that. They've shown they can beat anybody, and we're the only ones that can dig us out of this now."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  New England Revolution - Carles Gil

  Gil got the Revs temporarily on level terms against New York Red Bulls, with that his 100th regular-season goal contribution in MLS. That makes the Revs' attacking midfielder the seventh European player to reach that milestone, and the second Spaniard after David Villa.

  Philadelphia Union - Julian Carranza

  Carranza was on target for the Union in their midweek loss to New York City, coming from one of nine attempts he had on target. The former Argentina age-grade international has now registered four-or-more shots in four MLS career matches.

  To put that in perspective, the two other players to have done so in the club's history - Conor Casey and Andrew Wenger - have done so in a combined two games (one each).

  MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

  Philadelphia have won 12 matches against the Revs across all MLS competitions, which includes MLS is Back, since 2018 - their best return against any single opponent across that period.

  New England's tally of seven points from their opening 11 games is their worst-such return at this stage of a campaign in club history, with only two out of 17 teams in the post-shootout era (since 2000) managing to reach the playoffs from this position.

  However, there is some hope for them this weekend as the Union's one point across their past five matches is their fewest across any five-game span within a single season since April 2017.

  
  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  New England Revolution - 36.1%
  Draw - 28.8%
  Philadelphia Union - 35.1%

• New York City v New York Red Bulls: Schwarz targeting 'perfect week'

  Sandro Schwarz has called on the New York Red Bulls to make it a "perfect" week when they visit rivals New York City for a meeting between two of the form teams in MLS.

  The Red Bulls sit third in the Eastern Conference, five points behind leaders Inter Miami with a game in hand, after back-to-back wins over the New England Revolution (4-2) and D.C. United (4-1).

  Just three points further back are NYCFC, who have taken 15 points from the last 18 available to soar up the standings.

  Schwarz knows a derby victory would make this week hugely significant for the Red Bulls, saying: "It's a short week and we need all our players, not only 11, 12 or 13.

  "On Saturday, we know it's an important game for our club and we want to have this perfect week. We have six points already this week and we want to create that. It's step by step." 

  NYCFC boss Nick Cushing, meanwhile, is pleased to see his side looking more dangerous in transition after successive victories over Toronto FC (3-2) and the Philadelphia Union (2-1).

  "I think my aim at the start of the season was to have us create goal chances in every phase of play," Cushing said.

  "We had good moments last year but maybe weren't great in low moments, or when counter-pressing.

  "I'm really pleased that we are creating from transition moments, but if we have more possession you have control and can take the air out of games."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH 

  New York City – Santiago Rodriguez 

  Rodriguez assisted New York City's opening goal in their midweek win over Philadelphia. 

  NYCFC have a record of five wins, one draw and one defeat in the seven matches in which Rodriguez has contributed to a goal this season, compared to one win, one draw and four losses when he has not.

  New York Red Bulls – Lewis Morgan

  Morgan, Elias Manoel and Cameron Harper have each scored in the Red Bulls' last two matches. 

  The last time two Red Bulls players scored in three straight matches was between March and April 2012, when Kenny Cooper and Thierry Henry each scored in the same three consecutive games.

  MATCH PREDICTION – NEW YORK CITY WIN

  The Red Bulls won each of their first two road games against New York City, scoring 10 goals in the process. 

  However, the Red Bulls have since won on just one of their last nine visits to Yankee Stadium (two draws, six defeats), totalling just seven goals in those games.

  NYCFC have won five of their last six matches (one defeat) after starting the campaign with just one victory in seven. With home advantage on their side, they may just be slight favourites for what should be an entertaining affair.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  New York City – 45.2%

  New York Red Bulls – 25.9%

  Draw – 28.9% 

• Juventus sack head coach Allegri for behaviour at Coppa Italia final

  Juventus have relieved head coach Massimiliano Allegri of his duties with immediate effect, citing his behaviour during Wednesday's Coppa Italia final win as a factor in their decision.

  Allegri led Juve to a 1-0 win over Atalanta in Wednesday's domestic cup final at the Stadio Olimpico, the Bianconeri's first major trophy since they won the same competition in 2021.

  They have now won the Coppa six times in the last decade, while Allegri's five titles make him the most successful coach in the competition's history outright.

  However, cup glory was not enough to save Allegri's job after a staggering collapse in the second half of Juve's 2023-24 Serie A campaign.

  Juve were neck-and-neck with Inter at the summit at the turn of the year, but they are not even assured of a top-four finish with two games remaining following a run of five straight draws.

  They are guaranteed Champions League football for 2023-24 due to Italian clubs' performances in Europe this term, but Allegri will not lead them on their return to Europe's elite club competition.

  In a statement, the 36-time Italian champions said Allegri's animated behaviour during and after Wednesday's final contributed to his dismissal.

  The club said: "Juventus announces that it has relieved Massimiliano Allegri of his duties as coach of the men's first team.

  "The dismissal follows certain behaviours during and after the Coppa Italia final that the club deemed incompatible with the values of Juventus and with the behaviour that must be held by those who represent it.

  "A period of collaboration which began in 2014 and restarted in 2021 for three more seasons together comes to an end.

  "The club wishes Massimiliano Allegri the best of luck in his future projects."

  Thiago Motta – who has led Bologna to Champions League qualification – has been strongly linked with the role, with Allegri's position being questioned throughout the last few months.