Predicting Atlanta United’s (4-3-2) starting 11 for Sunday’s game against Orlando (3-4-3) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

If it ain’t broke...

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan

Right fullback Franco Escobar. 

Centerback Miles Robinson. 

Centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez.

Left fullback Brek Shea.

Defensive midfielder Eric Remedi.

Defensive midfielder Darlington Nagbe.

Wide midfielder Julian Gressel.

Wide midfielder Hector Villalba.

Attacking midfielder Pity Martinez.

Striker Josef Martinez.

Why pick the same starters from the past game, knowing that the team still has six games remaining in this stretch of eight games in 28 days?

Easy.

The team has won three consecutive games, four of five, and hasn’t had to stress itself physically to do so in its past three.

My lineup could be wrong if manager Frank de Boer thinks that Orlando’s Nani will line up on the right. If that’s the assumption, Michael Parkhurst may start in place of Brek Shea so that Nani, who likes to cut inside, will be going to against Parkhurst’s stronger right foot. It’s the same tactic de Boer used when the team faced Sporting KC with Johnny Russell.

Tell me what you think about this lineup.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com