Jeff Larentowicz trains for Atlanta United. (Photo: Atlanta United)
Preview
Atlanta United returns to action on Saturday, July 7 when it travels to Philadelphia to meet the Philadelphia Union at Talen Energy Stadium in the second leg of a two-match road trip. Atlanta is coming off a 3-2 loss at FC Dallas on Wednesday night, while Philadelphia has lost three of four heading into Saturday’s match, the most recent of which was a 4-1 defeat at LAFC on June 30.
In an earlier meeting between these two sides on June 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta defeating the nine-man Union, 3-1. Josef Martinez scored a hat trick after Alejandro Bedoya and Haris Medunjanin were sent off for second bookable offenses inside the first 20 minutes.
Broadcast Details
TV: FOX Sports Southeast
English Radio: 92-9 The Game (local), Sirius XM FC (national)
Spanish Radio: La Mejor 1600 AM
Pre-match coverage:
6 p.m.: AT&T Countdown to Kickoff (FB Live/Periscope)
6:30 p.m.: The Pre-Game show (92-9 The Game)
Atlanta United
Squad Details
Atlanta will be playing it’s third match in seven days. The mid-week match in Dallas was particularly grueling with hot and humid night in Texas. The squad looked fatigued at the end of the match and the late collapse may have exposed some mental fatigue as well as physical. Last season head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino did not rotate his starters during the grueling grind at the end of the season when faced with schedule congestion. He has stated that he would not do that again this season. He has had the fortune of several key players start the season slowly due to injury, but the big question marks would have to be around 34 year old’s Michael Parkhurst and Jeff Larentowicz. The play of both players has been huge in their success this season, but the schedule combined with the heat of July may force some rotation.
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Chris McCann, Romario Williams
- International duty: None
- Injury Report:
- Out:
- Greg Garza (torn labrum right shoulder)
- Darlington Nagbe (right adductor injury)
- Questionable:
- Chris McCann (hamstring)
- Out:
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1)
- GK: Brad Guzan
- Defenders (4): Franco Escobar, Michael Parkhurst, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Mikey Ambrose
- Defensive Midfielders (2): Jeff Larentowicz, Julian Gressel
- Attacking Midfielders (3): Hector Villalba, Miguel Almiron, Ezequiel Barco
- Forwards (1): Josef Martinez
Philadelphia Union
Squad Details
The Union were looking to extract revenge from the loss early this season in Atlanta when they went down two players from a wild flare-up over a penalty awarded in the first 20 minutes. There was a lot of pregame talk of how the results in the earlier match would have been different and how at home the Union would be able to play against Atlanta. Union right back Keegan Rosenberry said the before the match, “They’re one of the best teams in the league, but in our building and 11-v-11, like you saw in the first 20 minutes [of the last match], I feel like we have the confidence to go and play with those guys, if not outplay them.”
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
- Injury Report:
-
- Out:
- Josh Yaro (concussion)
- Questionable:
- Richie Marquez (sports hernia surgery)
- Out:
-
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1)
- GK: Andre Blake
- Defenders (4): Keegan Rosenberry, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Raymon Gaddis
- Midfielders (2): Haris Medunjanin, Alejandro Bedoya
- Midfielders (3): Marcus Epps, Borek Dockal, Fafa Picault
- Forward (1): CJ Sapon
Recent Meetings
Atlanta United 3, Philadelphia Union 1 (May 10, 2018)
