Preview
Atlanta United face new kid on the block 2018 MLS expansion Los Angeles FC at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Atlanta will be wearing their “King Peach” kit at home for the first time. They are expecting a full stadium including a packed standing room gallery. Atlanta looks to extend their dominate home form where they have won 12 of their last 16 home league games with only one loss. Home cooking has kept their scoring hot, where they have averaged 2.9 goals per game and never failed to score in an MLS home game.
This match-up features two of the premiere attacking clubs in the MLS. LAFC has proven prolific at scoring goals. Atlanta United (6.8) and Los Angeles FC (6.4) enter this weekend ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, in expected goals this season. LAFC has done this on the road, and has yet to play a match at home. Before the crushing loss last week to cross-town rivals the LA Galaxy, the expansion club had been flying high.
Broadcast Details
TV: ESPN
English Radio: 92-9 The Game (local), Sirius XM FC (national)
Spanish Radio: La Mejor 1600 AM
Pre-match coverage:
4:00 p.m.: AT&T Countdown to Kickoff (FB Live/Periscope)
4:30 p.m.: The Pre-Game show (92-9 The Game)
Atlanta United
Atlanta has a huge list of players on the sidelines with injuries. Franco Escobar is still out from the concussion received a couple weeks back. Greg Garza was held out of training this week and looks unlikely to be involved in the match this weekend. Jeff Larentowicz is listed as questionable, he missed the first couple of days of training this week, but has been in training the second of the week.
Another key player out is Leoandro Gonzalez Pirez. He will be serving a one game suspension after picking up two yellow cards in the match last weekend in Minnesota. As tough as this may be, Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan was quick to point out the character of the team, “One guy goes down with an injury or suspension and the next guy has to be ready to play. Luckily for us, we’ve got a lot of guys who are good on the ball who can step in.”
On a positive note, Michael Parkhurst was named to the MLS Team of the Week for his effort in organizing the defense and helping keep a clean sheet after going a man down. Head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino spoke praise for his captain, “As a player, [Parkhurst] has more than 10 years of experience and has won a championship with Columbus. Everything I have to say about his leadership is positive. [The captain] is not just a player who is going up and talking to the referee during games. It’s a player who leads the team on and off the field. We want someone who is honest, who is respectful, and who provides a good example for the team.”
Squad Details
- Suspended: Leoandro Gonzalez Pirez
- Suspended after next caution: None
- Injury Report:
- Out:
- Ezequiel Barco (right quad strain)
- Franco Escobar (head injury)
- José Hernández (quad strain)
- Mitch Hildebrandt (left knee sprain)
- Questionable:
- Greg Garza (shoulder)
- Jeff Larentowicz (ankle)
- Out:
Projected Starting XI
(3-5-2)
- GK: Brad Guzan
- Defenders (3): Chris McCann, Michael Parkhurst, Miles Robinson
- Midfielders (5):Sal Zizzo, Jeff Larentowicz, Darlington Nagbe, Miguel Almirón, Julian Gressel
- Forwards (2): Josef Martinez, Hector Villalba
Los Angeles FC
LAFC is coming off a crushing loss at the hands of their cross town rivals in the which also happens to be the first loss in club history. The club had a perfect start to the season with a wing in Seattle over the 2016 MLS Cup Champions, and then earned their second win in an resounding 5-1 rout of Real Salt Lake. Then were minutes away from a perfect start as well but lost a three goal lead in the last 30 minutes to the Galaxy.
Squad Details
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- Injury Report:
-
- Out:
- Luis Lopez (right tibial stress fracture)
- Omar Gaber (right knee LCL sprain)
- Questionable:
- Nne
- Out:
-
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1)
- GK:Tyler Miller
- Defenders (4): Steven Beitashour, Dejan Jakovic, Laurent Ciman, Joao Moutinho
- Holding Midfielders (2): Benny Feilhaber, Mark-Anthony Kaye
- Attack Midfielders (3): Latif Blessing, Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi
- Striker (1): Marco Urena
Recent Meetings
None
Atlanta United FC
MLS
