Gotham FC vs Bay FC preview: Back at home after the international break | OneFootball

NJ/NY Gotham FC will return to action after three weeks as they welcome Bay FC to New Jersey. The NJ/NY side will look to improve on their so far poor home form, where they have not only yet to win at home, but they have yet to find the back of the net there, too.

The match will begin a pretty pivotal stretch of games for Gotham FC. The next four are all against winnable opposition, with three of the four coming at home. It is important not just for them to move up the league standings by stringing together some positive results, but with the CONCACAF W Champions Cup knockout stage not too far around the corner, building some form before that competition begins will be key if they want to repeat as champions.

Meanwhile, this has been the beginning of a philosophy shift for Bay FC. After the club's first two seasons that seemingly saw an emphasis on high-profile, big-name players, a shift to youth and bringing in younger players has so far looked to be a positive change for a team that went winless in their last 15 games in 2025. Results have been mixed, but there is at least some hope that there is now a direction for the club rather than just being rudderless in the ocean of mediocrity. Hence, this will not be a walk in the park for the Bats.

The big story for Gotham FC is that nearly six weeks after originally signing, Guro Reiten is finally available for selection. While exactly how much she will play is currently unknown, it is expected that she will make her debut for the club on Saturday. So, here is a preview of Saturday's match.

Gotham FC vs Bay FC preview

Date

The game will be played on Saturday, April 25.

Time

The match is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM ET.

Location

The game will be played at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.

How to watch

The fixture will be broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.

Weather

It looks like a truly miserable day is in store for this game, with rain expected to start around 10 AM with an 80% chance at kickoff, only dropping to 70% by the end of the match. Temperatures will be around 48 degrees at kickoff and holding steady throughout the match. Wind speeds will be around 10 mph with gusts reaching 20 mph.

Injury report

Multiple players are out injured. Bruninha (hamstring), Kayla Duran (knee - SEI), Mandy Freeman (lower leg), Lilly Reale (lower leg), Emily Sonnett (lower leg), and Taryn Torres (knee - SEI) are unavailable, making the backline extremely thin.

Players to watch

Gotham fans should watch Jaedyn Shaw. She has been a key player since she joined the club last September. And especially this season, it seems like the team has played their best soccer when she's on the field, evidenced by her goal against the Kansas City Current prior to the international break. A healthy Shaw could be key to Gotham getting their season back on track.

Fans should also watch Alex Pfeiffer, who has been a revelation for Bay FC this season. After an injury-ravaged beginning to her career that saw her play just 15 matches in two seasons for Kansas City, the 18-year-old has been Bay's best attacker with two goals and two assists in four matches so far in 2026. Pfeiffer has added something extra to this Bay team and could be a really important piece, potentially leading the California side to the playoffs.

Prediction

The Bats will finally get the first home win of the season with a 2-0 victory. Goals will come from Shaw and Rose Lavelle, who will score her first of the season. As mentioned earlier, the game begins a key stretch where Gotham FC should be able to get a good chunk of points on the board. And despite their early-season form and being lower in the table, they should be able to get three points without too much difficulty.