Atlanta United centerback Stian Gregersen entered the concussion protocol and will not be available for Saturday’s match against D.C. United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Gregersen sustained the injury in the first half of Tuesday’s match against Charlotte Independence in the U.S. Open Cup. He was replaced by Noah Cobb, who paired with Efrain Morales.
Atlanta United’s healthy centerbacks as of Thursday for Saturday’s match are Cobb, Morales and Luis Abram. Derrick Williams remains out. He is working out individually, manager Gonzalo Pineda said Thursday.
Striker Jamal Thiare worked out individually Thursday. He also will not be available for Saturday.
Atlanta United has a busy stretch of matches coming. After D.C. United, it will play at Cincinnati on Wednesday, at Nashville on May 18, at Charleston in the U.S. Open Cup on May 21 or May 22, and against LAFC on May 25.
Gregersen was purchased by Atlanta United in the winter transfer window. Because of myriad injuries, he has made four appearances over the 10 MLS games, including three starts.
Among the challenges of not having Gregersen and Williams is that Saturday they will face one of the more physical centerbacks in MLS, Christian Benteke.
Benteke has eight goals and two assists in nine appearances for D.C. United, and 23 goals and six assists in 47 appearances in MLS.
A former Liverpool, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace player, Benteke is dominant in the air and adept at using his body to hold off defenders when the ball is playing into his feet or his chest. He has scored at least three goals this season on headers.
“I think I everyone knows who he is; I grew up watching him play when he was mainly at Palace,” Cobb said. “He’s a big No. 9, really good and they are really good on set pieces. And I’m just gonna have to, I’m just have to pick my battles, I’m gonna have to be smart with it.”
Cobb said a key will be to try to force Benteke, if he wins an aerial dual, to head the ball away from goal and that a teammate will win the loose ball.
Another key will be for Atlanta United’s midfielders, likely Tristan Muyumba and Bartosz Slisz, to deny service up the middle to Benteke, and to win the loose balls, according to Pineda.
Pineda said the most important key will be for Atlanta United to maintain possession, which will deny D.C. United opportunities to get the ball to Benteke.
“There are multiple ways we can try to minimize but at some point, we know some services are going to come in and he’s very, very impactful once he’s inside the box,” Pineda said. “So we just need to be alert to every single detail.”
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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule
Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0
March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1
March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0
March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0
March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0
April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1
April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2
April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1
April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1
May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1
May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in U.S. Open Cup
May 11 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
May 15 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
May 18 at Nashville, 1:30 p.m.
May 25 vs. LAFC, 7:30 p.m.
May 29 at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
June 2 vs Charlotte, 4:30 p.m., Fox
June 15 vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.
June 19 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 22 at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.
June 29 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
July 3 at New England, 7:30 p.m.
July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.
July 13 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 17 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.
July 20 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
July 26 vs. D.C. United in Leagues Cup, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 4 vs. Santos Laguna in Leagues Cup, 4 p.m.
Aug. 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Orlando, 6 p.m.
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