Atlanta United will host New England in the first round of the MLS playoffs at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports South, can be heard on 92.9FM or 94.1FM or you can follow my in-game updates (which are quicker than the TV and radio feeds) at @DougRobersonAJC.
Kyle McCarthy (@kylejmccarthy), an old friend who has been covering the Revs for years, answered five questions about the game:
Q: New England had a lot of success in the first half of the previous meeting isolating Cristian Penilla on Franco Escobar. Do you expect them to do that again?
A: I would expect Bruce Arena and his staff to evaluate all of their options and use the season finale as helpful information in formulating their game plan for this one. If they decide to play Penilla from the start, then the Revs will look to get him in situations where he can run at defenders (including Escobar) in space.
Q: Is there any pressure on New England?
A: New England is playing with house money at this point. This team made a dramatic recovery from a poor start and somehow found a way to reach the players. It's a testament to the impact of Arena on the squad and the character in the changing room. The players won't settle for a playoff appearance — they want to advance as far as they can — but any success at this stage is a bonus.
Q: How will Bruce Arena’s history of winning MLS Cups help the Revs?
A: Arena and his staff provide experience and nous ahead of a playoff game. They know how to prepare for games like this. This team hasn't made the playoffs since 2015, but they've needed to produce results for months now. He'll get his players in the right frame of mind and put them in a position to have success.
Q: What is the matchup to watch?
A: The matchup to watch is the New England center backs (likely Delamea and Farrell) against Josef Martinez. They have to restrict the service into him and track his movements at all times.
Q: What is your predicted score?
A: I like Atlanta United to win, 3-2, but I think the Revs will give a good account of themselves.
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