Atlanta United will continue its 2021 MLS season Saturday, hosting Nashville. The game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on Bally Sports.
Scouting Nashville
Coach: Gary Smith
Record: 2-0-4
Away record: 0-0-1
Atlanta United home record: 2-0-0
Formation: 4-4-2
Goals for/against: 7/4
Atlanta United goals for/against: 7/5
Expected goals per game for Nashville/opponent this season: 1.17/0.67
Expected goals per game for Atlanta United/opponent this season: 1.17/0.83
Key players:
Randall Leal, forward, 2 goals, 2 assists
Jhonder Cadiz, forward, 2 goals, 1 assist
Alex Muyl, midfield, 1 goal
Hany Mukhtar, midfielder, 1 goal
CJ Sapong, forward, 1 goal
Dax McCarty, midfield
Walker Zimmerman, centerback, 1 assist
Joe Willis, goalkeeper, 4 shutouts, 70 percent save percentage
Key thoughts for Atlanta United
This is an intriguing game.
Two teams with excellent defenses and who have difficult putting together scoring chances.
Atlanta United ranks third from bottom in the East at 7.1 expected goals this season. Nashville is third from top at 10.7.
A difference between the two teams is Atlanta United has had to go on the road for most of its games so far while Nashville has enjoyed playing at home for most of its games.
Atlanta United must be diligent, as always, on set pieces and counters. It gave up a goal to Seattle on set pieces and has been susceptible to counters because it pushes many players forward. You can see in the video below how quickly Nashville can flip the field and attack.
Zimmerman, in particular, is someone the team must watch on set pieces. While he often has played well on offense against Atlanta United, he has struggled on defense, particularly at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta United must continue its steady development on offense.
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