Let the hype begin: Get ready for Atlanta United vs. LAFC

Atlanta United midfielder Pity Martinez scores a goal between D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid and midfielder Paul Arriola for a 1-0 lead in a soccer match on Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Atlanta. Atlanta United won the game 2-0.   Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: compton@ajc.com

Credit: compton@ajc.com

Atlanta United midfielder Pity Martinez scores a goal between D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid and midfielder Paul Arriola for a 1-0 lead in a soccer match on Sunday, July 21, 2019, in Atlanta. Atlanta United won the game 2-0. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

It’s Atlanta United vs. LAFC at 10 p.m. Friday with all the glitz ESPN can muster.

It’s one team owned by a billionaire vs. a team owned by a conglomerate of millionaires.

It’s a team whose kit is sponsored by insurance vs. one sponsored by cat videos.

It’s the reigning MLS champs vs. the presumed biggest challenger.

It’s plastic, as Atlanta United is derisively called, vs. plastic, a descriptive also shared by LAFC ... but perhaps for different reasons.

It should be fun.

“It’s going to be an exciting game,” Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. “I’m sure you guys outside of the locker rooms will hype it up as much as you can and us, as players, know that it’s a big game, but it’s not the end all be all. It’s a chance for us to continue to pick up points and keep this short run of games going in a positive direction.”

The comparisons are inevitable but still interesting, especially considering that LAFC is doing in its second year many of the same things that Atlanta United did last season, which was its second.

Atlanta United is second in the East this season with 36 points. Not the dynamo it was last year, this season it has experienced fatigue from a glut of games that included the CONCACAF Champions League early this season, adjusting a new manager, Frank de Boer, and is beaten up with injuries to more than half-dozen valuable players, most of whom are slowly returning.

“Obviously, it’s going to be a very difficult game, a complicated game, but we have what it takes to go out to win, and we have to do that,” Atlanta United’s Pity Martinez said. “Go out to win. Atlanta deserves that, and us, as a group, as well. If we have the desire to be first in the conference then we have to play to win on every field.”

Having no international tournaments to worry about and mostly healthy, LAFC is running away with the Supporters’ Shield with a league-leading 46 points. LAFC is on pace for 74 points, which would break the points record (71) set by Red Bulls last season. However, after being bounced in the U.S. Open Cup a few weeks ago and then beaten and outmuscled by rivals L.A. Galaxy last week, there are unfair whispers that LAFC are flat-track bullies, which was a reputation Atlanta United had last year until it shed it by rolling through the postseason to win the MLS Cup.

Atlanta United features MVP Josef Martinez, who set the league scoring record with 31 goals last season. He has 16 this season. LAFC features Carlos Vela, who has 21 goals and is the front-runner for MVP because he is on pace to shatter Martinez’s record.

Stopping him will be key for Atlanta United.

“Take away his left foot I guess, see if we can chop it off and see what we can do with that,” Guzan said. “I’m sure we’ll look at their video over the next couple of days. Like I said, it’s not just him that makes them go. Bob (Bradley) does a really good job of making sure his teams are well organized but also fluid in their attack. We’re expecting nothing but their best come Friday night.”