Atlanta United (7-4-8) will play at the New York Red Bulls (4-6-8) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Red Bull Arena. The game will be televised on Apple TV. You can sync the radio broadcast from 92.9 FM through the app.
Here is a scouting report for the game:
Red Bulls manager: Troy Lesesne
Red Bulls at home: 3-2-4
Atlanta United on road: 1-3-5
Red Bulls goals for/against: 13/18
Red Bulls expected goals for/against: 24.2/17.4
Red Bulls past five matches: W-L-W-L-D
Atlanta United goals for/against: 37/31
Atlanta United expected goals for/against: 26.5/22.8
Atlanta United past five matches: D-D-D-W-D
Red Bulls key players
Andres Reyes: Two goals
Cory Burke: Two goals
Omir Fernandez: Two goals
Atlanta United key players
Thiago Almada: Seven goals, nine assists
Andrew Gutman: Three goals, five assists
Tyler Wolff: Four goals
Talking points
Will the kids keep playing? Manager Gonzalo Pineda played a club-record six Homegrown signees, plus Atlanta United 2 player Nick Firmino, on Wednesday. Ajani Fortune, who started in central midfield, is on international duty with Trinidad for Tobago for the Gold Cup. Luke Brennan didn’t train with the team Friday because teams typically don’t travel with more than 20 players. But the remaining Homegrowns, and Firmino, are available.
Can team finally win in Harrison? Atlanta United is 0-3-2 at the Red Bulls in regular-season matches. It has defeated New York once in 13 regular-season matches.
Who will start at centerback. Noah Cobb, one of the Homegrowns, started beside JuanJo Purata on Wednesday. Luis Abram has returned from international duty with Peru. It will be interesting to see if Pineda goes with the more experienced duo or if he keeps Wednesday’s pairing together to maintain continuity.
Injury reports
Atlanta United
Questionable: Erik Lopez (ankle).
Out: Santiago Sosa (ankle), Miles Robinson (international duty), Derrick Etienne (international duty) and Ajani Fortune (international duty).
Red Bulls
Questionable: Dante Vanzeir (hamstring) and Dylan Nealis (groin).
Out: Serge Ngoma (hamstring), Lewis Morgan (hip), Steven Sserwadda (knee), Cory Burke (international duty) and John Tolkin (international duty).
Officiating crew
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Assistants: Gianni Facchini, Stefan Tanaka-Freundt
Fourth official: Brandon Stevis
VAR: Jair Marrufo
AVAR: Robert Schaap
Atlanta United’s predicted 11
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan
Centerback Luis Abram
Centerback JuanJo Purata
Right fullback Brooks Lennon
Left fullback Andrew Gutman
Defensive midfielder Franco Ibarra
Midfielder Matheus Rossetto
Attacking midfielder Thiago Almada
Right wing Tyler Wolff
Left wing Caleb Wiley
Striker Giorgos Giakoumakis
For more content about Atlanta United
Follow me on Twitter @DougRobersonAJC
On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now
On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson
Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found
Apple - https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C
Google podcasts - https://bit.ly/32KlZW3
If you are listening to us for the first time, please follow us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast ... and if you like what you hear, please give us a good rating so we can grow the show. If you have questions about the MLS team, you can email Doug Roberson at droberson@ajc.com, DM him on Twitter @dougrobersonajc or call 404-526-2527.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a special offer for Atlanta United supporters and listeners to this podcast. If you subscribe today, you will not only get unlimited digital access to the AJC and the Sunday paper for $2.30 a week but we are also throwing in a special limited-edition Atlanta United and Atlanta Journal-Constitution scarf. So sign up now at subscribe.ajc.com/utdscarf.
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 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
July 25 at Miami in Leagues Cup, 7:30 p.m.
July 29 vs. Cruz Azul in Leagues Cup, 8 p.m.
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 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
About the Author
