With their MLS playoff aspirations potentially at stake, Atlanta United host the New York Red Bulls on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Five Stripes were beaten 2-1 by CF Montreal on Wednesday, putting them three points below the Eastern Conference post-season line, while the Red Bulls came away with an emphatic 4-1 triumph versus Toronto, maintaining their sixth-place standing in the East.
Match preview
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Their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread as Atlanta United come into this weekend's action on a five-match MLS winless run.
Failure to win this upcoming encounter would likely spell the end for Rob Valentino's men in 2024, with three teams currently above them in the playoff race.
A Toronto victory this weekend would create a must-win situation for the Five Stripes in order to maintain their post-season aspirations.
Winning their final two encounters might not be enough for them to make the playoffs, while they can only accumulate 40 points by the end of the campaign, which would equal their fewest-ever in a 34-game season.
Atlanta have claimed just one point from their previous three matches played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with their last home victory in this competition coming in July against the Columbus Crew (2-1).
While it has been a rough stretch for them of late, the Five Stripes have not suffered consecutive MLS defeats since July.
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After weeks of mediocre results, the Red Bulls finally showed some consistent quality on Wednesday, ending an eight-match winless run across all competitions.
Head coach Sandro Schwarz saw his side score as many goals in midweek as they had in their previous three domestic affairs combined.
They will enter matchday 33 just two points below Orlando City for fourth and home-field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
If they can win on Saturday, the Red Bulls will reach the 50-point plateau for only the second time in the past six MLS regular seasons (53 in 2022).
This weekend, they have an opportunity to win consecutive road games in MLS for the first time all year while also exceeding their number of away victories in the competition from 2023 (four).
The Red Bulls have earned a positive result in 11 of their previous 12 competitive meetings with Atlanta, though they lost their last visit to Mercedes-Benz Stadium against them in 2023 (1-0).
Team News
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In their midweek affair, Atlanta played without Xande Silva, who is still nursing a sore foot, while Quentin Westberg was sidelined due to a head injury.
Brooks Lennon will be unavailable this weekend because of yellow card accumulation, and Jamal Thiare returned from concussion protocol, coming on as a second-half substitute.
Their only goal against Montreal came courtesy of Daniel Rios, his first of the competition since scoring in the opening minute of a 2-2 draw versus New York City FC last July.
Kyle Duncan missed another encounter for the Red Bulls this week as he continues to recover from knee surgery, Wikelman Carmona sat out Wednesday with a thigh issue and Roald Mitchell was sidelined because of a knee injury.
Sean Nealis was back on the field this week for the first time since he hurt his thigh, replacing Andres Reyes in the second half against Toronto.
A 27th-minute penalty converted by Emil Forsberg got the Red Bulls on the board in their previous encounter, with Lewis Morgan also netting from the spot and the other goals coming from John Tolkin and Elias Manoel.
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Hernandez, Rode Gregersen, Williams, Amador; Slisz, Muyumba; Lobzhanidze, Miranchuk, Thiare; Rios
New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Coronel; D. Nealis, S. Nealis, Eile, Tolkin; Stroud, Carballo, Edelman, Forsberg; Vanzeir, Morgan
We say: Atlanta United 0-2 New York Red Bulls
Atlanta have not been able to use their desperation in the right way, leaving far too many gaps in behind when pushing for a goal, and we believe that will cost them this weekend against a Red Bulls unit that thrive in transition.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
