Atlanta United (0-1-0) will host Cruz Azul (0-1-0) at 7 pm. Saturday in the Leagues Cup. 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:
What’s at stake: The winner will advance to the knockout rounds. The loser is eliminated.
Cruz Azul manager: Tuca Ferretti
Cruz Azul goals for/against in tourney: 1/2
Atlanta United goals for/against in tourney: 0/4
Format of tournament: Each match must have a winner. If a match is tied at the end of regulation, it will go to penalty kicks. The team that wins in regulation earns three points. The team that wins in penalty kicks earns two points. The team that loses in penalty kicks earns one point. The team that loses in regulation earns no points.
Talking points
1. Experiment again? Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda tried something different in the first half of the 4-0 loss against Miami on Tuesday. He used Luis Abram as a left fullback, who played more like a centerback. Pineda abandoned that to start the second half by inserting Ronald Hernandez at fullback and moving Abram to his natural position as a centerback.
2. Midfield pairing. Pineda started Santiago Sosa and Matheus Rossetto in central midfield against Miami. Neither was able to slow the Herons. Pineda doesn’t have many choices, though. He implied that new signing Tristan Muyumba will be used as a reserve. That leaves Ozzie Alonso, Amar Sejdic and Ajani Fortune as the other options.
3. Penalty kicks. Should the game go to penalty kicks, Pineda said last week that he knows the team’s five best penalty-kick takers. They have worked on that during the past week. Pineda said he prefers that the team’s best takers go first. Thiago Almada, presumably the team’s best taker because of his skill at free kicks, had a penalty kick saved against Miami.
Injury reports
Atlanta United, out: Franco Ibarra (loan) and Machop Chol (ankle)
Cruz Azul: Not available.
Officiating crew
Referee: Oliver Vergara Rodriguez
Assistants: Ronald Bruna, Alejandro Camarena
Fourth official: Jaime Garduño
VAR: Benjamin Pineda
AVAR: Jorge Peregrina
Atlanta United’s predicted 11
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan
Centerback JuanJo Purata
Centerback Miles Robinson
Centerback Luis Abram
Right fullback Brooks Lennon
Left fullback Caleb Wiley
Defensive midfielder Ozzie Alonso
Midfielder Amar Sejdic
Midfielder Ajani Fortune
Attacking midfielder Thiago Almada
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 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 vs. Cruz Azul in Leagues Cup, 7 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
