Atlanta United (12-8-10) will host Montreal (11-14-4) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kickoff will be at 7:39 p.m. The game will be televised on Apple TV. You can sync the radio broadcast from 92.9 FM through the app.
Montreal manager: Hernan Losada
Montreal on road: 2-10-2
Atlanta United at home: 9-3-3
Montreal goals for/against: 29/41
Montreal expected goals for/against: 32.3/39.4
Montreal past five league matches: W-L-L-T-T
Atlanta United goals for/against: 57/46
Atlanta United expected goals for/against: 40.8/36
Atlanta United past five matches: W-L-T-W-T
Montreal key players
Mathieu Choiniere: Four goals, two assists
Chionso Offor: Four goals
Kwadwo Opoku: Three goals
Atlanta United key players
Thiago Almada: Nine goals, 15 assists
Giorgos Giakoumakis: 14 goals, two assists
Caleb Wiley: Four goals, three assists
Brooks Lennon: Four goals, 10 assists
Tyler Wolff: Five goals
Saba Lobjanidze: Three goals, two assists
Talking points
1. Keeping momentum. Atlanta United is unbeaten in its past three matches. One more win and it will clinch a playoff berth. It has three games remaining, each against a playoff team.
2. Don’t allow a goal. Two stats that stand out: Atlanta United has scored almost 30 more goals than Montreal. The visitors haven’t scored in 10 of their 14 road matches this season.
Officiating crew
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
Assistants: Jeremy Hanson, Andrew Bigelow
Fourth official: Marcos DeOliveira
VAR: Younes Marrakchi
AVAR: Fabio Tovar
Injury reports
Atlanta United
Out: Ozzie Alonso (leg) and Machop Chol (leg).
Questionable: Brad Guzan (illness).
Montreal
TBD
What was said
“I liked that they were a little bit disappointed about tying away (at D.C. United). I like that mentality that we’re not comfortable losing two points on the road when we were winning already. So I like that mentality from the team. They were disappointed. We have a new focus, and we have a new goal, which is winning tomorrow. And I can see that response from the team. So I think that’s a good sign on the mentality of the team.” – Pineda
“They know the importance of tomorrow’s match. You can feel like that might be coming soon, clinching playoffs, I hope we can do it this weekend.” – Pineda
“Well, I hate those stats. I hate those stats. Because, again, I always think that football is fantastic game because anything can happen in 90 minutes. So tendencies and all that is good to know. But at times I hate those those numbers.” – Pineda, discussing Montreal’s trouble scoring on the road
“We’re aware. But the most important thing tomorrow is to try to get three points. And then after that, you know whether we’re in the playoffs or not. We’ll see, but right now we’re treating this game like a final, and our focus is to get three points.” – Matheus Rossetto
Atlanta United’s predicted 11
Goalkeeper Quentin Westberg
Centerback Luis Abram
Centerback Miles Robinson
Right fullback Brooks Lennon
Left fullback Caleb Wiley
Defensive midfielder Matheus Rossetto
Midfielder Tristan Muyumba
Attacking midfielder Thiago Almada
Winger Xande Silva
Winger Saba Lobjanidze
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 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 Atlanta United 2, FC Dallas 2
Sept. 16 Atlanta United 5, Inter Miami 2
Sept. 20 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 1
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, 6 p.m.
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