Seattle Sounders and Atlanta United are set to resume their respective MLS campaigns when they meet at Lumen Field on Saturday evening.
Neither side have been in action since the middle of July, having recently competed in the North & Central America Leagues Cup, but they are now set to lock horns in a cross-conference MLS match this weekend.
Match preview
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While their MLS season has been on hold, Seattle have not been in the best of form, crashing out of the Leagues Cup after losing both of their group-stage matches, having faced Real Salt Lake and Monterrey.
The Sounders lost 3-0 against Salt Lake in what was a pretty disappointing display, registering just one shot on target in the entire match, before squandering a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 against Monterrey last time out.
Brian Schmetzer's side have been more impressive in the league, however, currently sitting fourth in the Western Conference, having taken a total of 36 points from 24 games.
Seattle are just five points behind top-of-the-table St. Louis City, and they are comfortably in the playoffs, having picked up eight more points than 10th-placed Minnesota, so they are in a very promising position as we enter the final third of the MLS season.
The Rave Green have never lost a home match against their upcoming opponents, but they did lose the last game between the two sides, coming up short in a 2-1 defeat at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium last August.
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Atlanta United got the better of Seattle the last time the two sides met, but they will need to bring a very poor run of form to an end if they are to stand a chance of picking up three points this weekend, having lost their last four games in all competitions.
Atlanta also exited the Leagues Cup at the group stage, losing against Inter Miami in a 4-0 thrashing, with Lionel Messi bagging a brace, before drawing 1-1 in regular time against Cruz Azul but losing after a penalty shootout.
Prior to the MLS season being paused, Gonzalo Pineda's side had lost their last two games, meaning they now sit seventh in the Western Conference, still in the playoff places, in part due to their fantastic record in front of goal.
Games involving Atlanta United tend to be high-scoring affairs, and they have scored the second-highest number of goals in the Eastern Conference, but they can be suspect defensively, having also conceded the second-highest number of goals of any Eastern Conference side.
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Team News
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Seattle Sounders will be without long-term absentee Xavier Arreaga, who has missed the last eight games due to injury, but Schmetzer otherwise has a fully-fit squad to choose from this weekend.
Jordan Morris is the Rave Green's top scorer so far this season, with nine MLS goals to his name, and the 28-year-old is set to keep his place at right-wing, with Nicolas Lodeiro poised to play in attacking midfield, accompanied by Leo Chu on the left flank.
Raul Ruidiaz has not been prolific for the Sounders this term, scoring just four league goals, but the Peruvian has started the last three games, and he should keep his place at striker.
Atlanta United have no injury issues to contend with, and Pineda is set to utilise a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Georgios Giakoumakis leading the line, having scored 10 goals in 17 MLS games this season.
It is also worth watching out for 22-year-old attacking midfielder Thiago Almada, who has been by far Atlanta's most dangerous player this season, weighing in with eight goals and 10 assists in 21 league games.
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Cleveland; Roldan, Gomez, Ragen, Nouhou; Paulo, Rusnak, Morris, Lodeiro, Chu; Ruidiaz
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Hernandez, Robinson, Abram; Lennon, Sejdic, Rossetto, Wiley; Muyumba, Almada, Giakoumakis
We say: Seattle Sounders 3-2 Atlanta United
Given that Atlanta United have been impressive on the front foot but quite poor defensively, we expect Saturday's game to be high-scoring, with the hosts just about coming out on top.
Neither side performed well in the Leagues Cup, but Seattle Sounders were in better form prior to the MLS season being paused, and they should be able to pick up all three points on home soil.
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Top tip
Dominic Lund
