Atlanta United (11-8-8) will play at FC Dallas (9-10-6) at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Kickoff will be at 8:39 p.m. The game will be televised on Apple TV. You can sync the radio broadcast from 92.9 FM through the app.
Dallas manager: Nico Estevez
Dallas at home: 7-3-2
Atlanta United on road: 3-5-5
Dallas goals for/against: 27/28
Dallas expected goals for/against: 25.2/27.2
Dallas past five league matches: L-L-T-W-L
Atlanta United goals for/against: 49/41
Atlanta United expected goals for/against: 38.4/32.1
Atlanta United past five matches: L-L-W-W-L
Dallas key players
Jesus Ferreira: 10 goals
Nkosi Tafari: Three goals, two assists
Alan Velasco: Two goals, two assists
Jader Obrian: Two goals, two assists
Atlanta United key players
Thiago Almada: Nine goals, 13 assists
Giorgos Giakoumakis: 12 goals
Caleb Wiley: Four goals, two assists
Brooks Lennon: Three goals, eight assists
Talking points
1. The heat. It is expected to be 95 degrees ... at kickoff. Plus, Atlanta United will be playing its third match in eight days. It’s not a good combination for success.
2. The lineup. Atlanta United used the same starting lineup in the past three matches, a first this season. It would seem unlikely that manager Gonzalo Pineda would pick the same 11 for the fourth consecutive match because of the heat and congestion of matches. But, who will sit and who will start?
Officiating crew
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
AR1: Chris Elliott
AR2: Adam Garner
Fourth official: Jair Marrufo
VAR: Daniel Radford
AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
Injury reports
Atlanta United
Out: Ozzie Alonso (leg), Franco Ibarra (loan) and Jamal Thiaré (visa).
Dallas
Out: Tarik Scott (season-ending knee surgery)
What was said
“I think everyone knows it’s going to be hot in Dallas. It’s hot here every single day. It’s very humid here, as well. So I don’t think it’s going to be crazy different from what we train in every single day. Just a mentality thing, blocking that out of your mind and focusing on doing our jobs.” – Lennon on the heat
“We have to gather more information on the recovering process for each player, and once we gather that information, if everyone is good to go, they will go. If we need to rotate a few, we will.” – Pineda on potentially resting any players
Atlanta United’s predicted 11
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan
Centerback Luis Abram
Centerback Miles Robinson
Right fullback Ronald Hernandez
Left fullback Caleb Wiley
Defensive midfielder Santiago Sosa
Midfielder Amar Sejdic
Attacking midfielder Thiago Almada
Winger Derrick Etienne
Winger Saba Lobjanidze
Striker Miguel Berry
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1
April 15 Atlanta United 2, Toronto FC 2
April 23 Atlanta United 2, Chicago 1
April 29 Nashville SC 3, Atlanta United 1
May 6 Inter Miami CF 2, Atlanta United 1
May 13 Charlotte 3, Atlanta United 1
May 17 Atlanta United 4, Colorado 0
May 20 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 3
May 27 Atlanta United 1, Orlando 1
May 31 Atlanta United 3, New England 3
June 7 Atlanta United 0, LAFC 0
June 10 Atlanta United 3, D.C. United 1
June 21 Atlanta United 2, New York City 2
June 24 New York Red Bulls 4, Atlanta United 0
July 2 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 0
July 8 Atlanta United 1, Montreal 0
July 12 New England 2, Atlanta United 1
July 15 Orlando City 2, Atlanta United 1
July 25 Miami 4, Atlanta United 0 in Leagues Cup
July 29 Cruz Azul 1 (5), Atlanta United (4) 1 in Leagues Cup
Aug. 20 Atlanta United 2, Seattle 0
Aug. 26 Atlanta United 4, Nashville 0
Aug. 30 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 5 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
