Atlanta United’s Thiago Almada will miss Saturday’s MLS match at Nashville because of a mild calf strain.
Almada felt discomfort in the calf during warmups for Wednesday’s match at Cincinnati, manager Gonzalo Pineda said. The strain may have happened during the 1-0 loss. Almada was subbed off in the 16th minute.
Atlanta United (3-5-3) is in the midst of a seven-match winless streak in the league. Nashville fired its coach Gary Smith on Thursday.
Almada, 23 years old and a Designated Player, has three goals and one assist in 11 appearances. He is hoping to play for Argentina in the Olympics and Copa America this summer.
Pineda may select Nic Firmino as Almada’s replacement as attacking midfielder, if he chooses to use the team’s typical formation. Almada was deployed as a left winger against Cincinnati. Pineda has several options at left wing, including Xande Silva, who replaced Almada against Cincinnati, or Edwin Mosquera.
Almada may not be the only starter missing. Striker Giorgos Giakoumakis may have suffered a hamstring injury based upon motions he was making toward the bench during the Cincinnati match. He may have also suffered a concussion after colliding with Miles Robinson. An update on Giakoumakis’ status isn’t yet known.
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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule
Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0
March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1
March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0
March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0
March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0
April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1
April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2
April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1
April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1
May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1
May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in U.S. Open Cup
May 11 D.C. United 3, Atlanta United 2
May 15 Cincinnati 1, Atlanta United 0
May 18 at Nashville, 1:30 p.m.
May 25 vs. LAFC, 7:30 p.m.
May 29 at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
June 2 vs Charlotte, 4:30 p.m., FOX
June 15 vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.
June 19 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 22 at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.
June 29 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
July 3 at New England, 7:30 p.m.
July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.
July 13 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 17 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.
July 20 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
July 26 vs. D.C. United in Leagues Cup, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 4 vs. Santos Laguna in Leagues Cup, 4 p.m.
Aug. 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Orlando, 6 p.m.
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