Atlanta United (4-1-2) will play at Toronto (1-1-5) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The game will be broadcast for free on the MLS channel on AppleTV. You can sync the radio broadcast from 92.9 FM through the app. You can follow the coverage of Doug Roberson, who has covered the franchise since 2014, on twitter @DougRobersonAJC.
Here is a scouting report for the game:
Toronto manager: Bob Bradley
Toronto at home/overall: 1-0-2/1-1-5
Atlanta United on road/overall: 1-1-1/4-1-2
Toronto goals for/against: 8/7
Toronto expected goals for/against: 7.5/7.4
Atlanta United goals for/against: 14/10
Atlanta United expected goals for/against: 10.4/7.4
Previous meeting this season: Teams drew 1-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Toronto key players
Federico Berndardeschi: Three goals, one assist
Mark-Anthony Kaye: Two goals
Michael Bradley: One goal, one assist
Atlanta United key players
Thiago Almada: Four goals, five assists
Giorgos Giakoumakis: Three goals
Caleb Wiley: Three goals, two assists
Talking points
1. How will replacing Brad Guzan affect the team? Quentin Westberg will get the start in goal in place of Guzan, who suffered a torn MCL in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at NYCFC. Guzan was more than just the team’s goalkeeper, he was the vocal leader and the guy in the locker room who would encourage teammates when needed.
2. Who will replace Franco Ibarra? Pineda has three options: Santiago Sosa, Matheus Rossetto, Ajani Fortune and Amar Sejdic. Sosa and Fortune are the more natural choices if Pineda wants more defense. Rossetto would be the more offensive-focused choice.
3. Will Atlanta United be focused? The team felt hard-done by referee Drew Fischer in last week’s game. That, on top of losing Guzan for at least 10 weeks, would be enough in previous seasons to negatively affect the team a week later. This team seems built differently, though. Saturday will be good test.
Injury reports
Atlanta United
Out: Ozzie Alonso (recovery from torn ACL), Brad Guzan (MCL) and Franco Ibarra (red-card suspension).
Toronto
Out: Adama Diomande (lower body), Cristian Gutierrez (non-COVID illness), Matt Hedges (concussion protocol) and Victor Vazquez (lower body).
Questionable: Lorenzo Insigne (lower body).
What was said
“I think the intensity has been very good. All of them, and not just because of Franco being out. I think, in general, every week, I see a lot of competition in different positions. Some of them, I cannot reward with minutes just because of the situations of the games. But there are many, many guys that haven’t played a minute in the season that deserve more than that. It’s just the moment of some of the players is really, really good. But they are doing a great job at competing every day. And that helps the others to raise the level. So I’m very happy with that. Actually it’s very good cultural thing that we’re changing, and it’s working, so happy with everyone competing for that spot. Especially now in the midfield, but in general, fullback, centerbacks, attackers, attacking midfielders. I mean, they are all doing a great job.” – Pineda
Officiating crew
Referee: Ted Unkel
Assistants: Corey Rockwell and Jeffrey Greeson
Fourth official: Filip Dujic
VAR: Jair Marrufo
AVAR: Rene Parra
Atlanta United’s predicted 11
Goalkeeper Quentin Westberg
Centerback Miles Robinson
Centerback JuanJo Purata
Right fullback Brooks Lennon
Left fullback Andrew Gutman
Defensive midfielder Santiago Sosa
Midfielder Matheus Rossetto
Attacking midfielder Thiago Almada
Right wing Luiz Araujo
Left wing Caleb Wiley
Striker Giorgos Giakoumakis
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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 at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 23 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
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
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
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