New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 6
New England Revolution vs. Philadelphia Union
Gillette Stadium – Foxborough
August 20 – 7:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

Gillette Stadium served as one of the coolest Drive-In MLS is Back Tournament watch parties, and on August 20 the venue will host a rematch of one of the competition's knockout round clashes as the New England Revolution square off against the Philadelphia Union.

The Revolution left Orlando following that 1-0 defeat to the Union, closing out what was a mixed bag for Bruce Arena's squad in Orlando. The Revs have lost just once in regular-season play in 2020, back on the opening day of the season to the Montreal Impact. But they have also won just once — curiously against the same opponents at the MLS is Back Tournament — leaving them in ninth place in the East.

The Union were one of the darlings of MLS is Back. Andre Blake was back to his vintage dominant self, Brenden Aaronson and Mark McKenzie shined bright enough to impress European scouts and Jim Curtin's squad marched to the semifinals, earning more knockout round success after last year's first-ever Audi MLS Cup Playoff victory.

In that Round of 16 encounter, a second half goal by Sergio Santos was the only thing that separated the squads. Arena received a red card after the final whistle and will serve a one-game suspension Thursday.

New England Revolution

There's skill all around the pitch and a Hall of Fame coach on the sideline, but the Revs begin this restart without arguably their most important player after Carles Gil underwent surgery on his left Achilles tendon and will be sidelined for up to five months. Can the Revs find a way to prosper without their creative linchpin? That will surely be the question occupying Arena’s mind as he prepares for the season restart. With Gil out, responsibility will fall even greater on the shoulders of Gustavo Bou to both find the net and help supply fellow-DP Adam Buksa.

At the start of the Secondary Transfer Window, the Revs bolstered their depth with trades for a pair of MLS vets in Kekuta Manneh and Tommy McNamara after Matt Polster arrived via a transfer from Rangers FC.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Luis Caicedo (M) - right knee injury
- OUT: Carles Gil (M) - left Achilles injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

Philadelphia Union

Make no mistake, the Union are contenders this year. But that statement of intent was largely missing in Orlando with Blake putting on an MVP-like performance to mask some of the errors. Philadelphia have another few gears, as evidence of a thrilling 3-3 draw against LAFC back in March. To get there, do-everything midfielder Jamiro Monteiro will be the key to better play and sustained success for the rest of 2020.