D.C. United and New York City FC face off for the second and final time in the regular season this weekend when the two teams meet up at Audi Field. Last month, United went up to the Bronx for the second game of the year and got what seemed to be a credible point with a 0-0 draw. However, City have not started the season well, failing to win any of their first six games while drawing five and losing one.

That's made head coach Dome Torrent's seat a bit hotter in recent weeks, as he has struggled to keep the momentum of former coach Patrick Vieria going since taking over last June. After winning four of his first five games, Torrent has only picked up three points three times in the past 19 regular season games. 

Last weekend, Torrent's side had the task of playing the opponent for Minnesota United's opening of their brand new home, Allianz Field. A wild first half resulted in a 3-3 draw, which saw both sides make mistakes in an entertaining affair. Here's what might be relevant from that game for Sunday's tilt between D.C. United and City. 

Dome Torrent's Tinkering

When D.C. United got off to a good start to the season, a big factor was the ability of Ben Olsen to name the same starting lineup for the first four games. United won three of those four while only conceding a single goal. On the opposite bench for Sunday's tilt is NYCFC head coach Dome Torrent, who has been in charge of 28 games for City since last June. In those 28 games — including 25 regular season games and three playoff matches — Torrent has used 27 different lineups.

In 28 games Dome Torrent has played 27 different line ups. Good news is Maxi is back and Tajouri-Shradi is starting. #nycfc @BlueCityRadio @ProstSoccer @BlueYorkOne

— Michael Allen (@msa_allen) April 13, 2019

Injuries, suspensions, international absences, and so on will always affect who is available from week to week. But Torrent hasn't been consistent with his lineups, and on Saturday against Minnesota United, Pep Guardiola's old assistant even went as far as to switch formations to a three-man back line. 

Olsen did the same thing on the road against the Colorado Rapids, but the United boss was basically forced into the change due to a lack of healthy outside backs. Torrent didn't have the same sort of issue, as his starting right and left backs, Anton Tinnerholm and Ronald Matarrita both started against Minnesota, just a bit further up the field. 

The odd man out in the formation switch was City's big acquisition this year, Alexandru Mitrita. The Romanian started the first five games of the year, scoring a goal and assisting on another. He's shown that he's capable of being a top-level force in MLS in spurts, but City's inconsistent play this year — with five draws, one loss, and zero wins — has some parallels with Mitrita's performances. 

Of course, down 3-2 at the half to Minnesota, Torrent put Mitrita on for Tony Rocha, reverting to a more familiar 4-2-3-1 formation. That's likely what the Black-and-Red should expect this weekend, but there's always a good chance to Torrent will add some wrinkle — formation or personnel-wise — to his starting lineup.

Ethan Finley Exploiting City's First Half Formation 

Given how poor Torrent's formation performed in the first half against Minnesota, it would be surprising to see another 3-4-3 look at Audi Field on Sunday. One of the reasons why Torrent likely abandoned the look was because of how many times the Loons' right midfielder, Ethan Finley, got in behind New York City's back line. 

Here are a couple of examples:

Miscommunication or misunderstanding from City left Finley with no one around him

As early as the third minute, the Loons had already been able to take advantage of City's formation. Finley has way too much space to operate, and Darwin Quintero has no issues getting the winger the ball from here. The chance doesn't result in a goal, as the first cross is blocked and the second cross is headed over by Angelo Rodriguez. But it was a sign of things to come in the first half.

Gregus and Finley are on the same page with this play that leads to the equalizer

Here, there's less room for Finley to operate, but he assists on the goal for Rodriguez anyway. You can see that as Jan Gregus hits the ball, defender Tony Rocha is on his front foot, moving away from goal. Finley is already making his move towards goal, so after Gregus makes the pass, Finley is in the clear. From there, it was a simple ball into the middle for Rodriguez to finish.

Finley is just offside on this play before the end of the half 

This time, the ball from Finley doesn't come from as deep, but Quintero and Finley still recognize the space, and Finley gets into the box from the right flank to win a penalty. In this instance, Finley was marginally offside, which negated the penalty call. But Minnesota quickly found the weak point in City's lineup and continued to target Finley throughout the whole game. 

How does this relate to the Black-and-Red? D.C. have a very similar player in Paul Arriola. Arriola is quick, just like Finley. He has the ability to get in behind City's back line and provide the kind of service that can result goals. If City starts with the same formation again, look for United to try to attack through the same avenues.

Who Starts Up Top For City? 

The answer to this question used to be David Villa. 

The Spanish striker was a thorn in D.C.'s side, but one of the more prolific goal scorers in the past 15 years in the world was a thorn in everyone's side in MLS. But Villa is gone now, and City haven't quite figured out what to do up top. In the first six games, Torrent has tried several different options.

First it was starting the diminutive Maxi Moralez in a false nine role against Orlando City in the season opener, and then in the third game of the season. Jesus Medina, also not a No. 9 striker, was given the start there in City's only loss of the year, the 4-0 defeat at Toronto FC. Valentin Castellanos has the other three starts up top for NYCFC.

The young Argentine scored against Minnesota but doesn't really have the track record of a goal scorer to fill in reliably up top. After the season started, City brought in Heber, a Brazilian striker who was most recently playing in Croatia. Heber's goal scoring record is a bit more impressive than Castellanos, but Heber is still finding his place with City, having yet to start while making two substitute appearances. 

It was never going to be easy to replace a figure like David Villa, but City certainly haven't covered themselves in glory in doing so. They have seven goals from six games, which is an OK total. But if they had a clearer answer to their striker position, then they'd probably have a couple more goals, and at least a win or two, to their name.