Overview

• New York City FC enters at 15-9-5 (50 points) after 29 matches, facing third-place Charlotte FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday at noon ET.
• Charlotte arrives on a dominant run over its past 10 matches at 9-0-1 and won the previous meeting 2-0, with Idan Gorno coming off a hat trick against Inter Miami.
• NYCFC has surged to 6-1-1 over its past eight, including a 3-2 comeback win over Columbus on Wednesday decided by a stoppage-time goal.
• BETMGM lists NYCFC as a slight favorite at -103, with Charlotte at +260 and the draw at +254, and an over/under of 2.5 goals.
• Coach Pascal Jansen stresses a one-game focus as NYCFC eyes this matchup before a high-profile home date against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami on Sept. 24 and a demanding road swing.