Atlanta United can move above the Eastern Conference playoff line in Major League Soccer (MLS) when they host Inter Miami on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
A 2-0 defeat versus Nashville SC this past weekend has the Five Stripes two points below DC United with a game in hand, while the Herons are seven points clear of the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Supporters' Shield race, coming from behind to defeat the Philadelphia Union 3-1 on Saturday.
Match preview
It was a less-than-ideal start for Atlanta over the weekend, conceding after just five minutes and failing to generate many quality chances despite registering five efforts on target.
Rob Valentino's men have failed to find the back of the net in three of their previous four matches across all competitions, winning only one of those encounters (1-0 at Charlotte FC).
Atlanta United can win at most eight regular-season contests at home this year, which would still be two fewer than they managed in 2023.
On the other hand, this team have suffered six home defeats in the league this year, three more than they incurred in the 2023 domestic campaign.
In their last three matches played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium across all competitions, the Five Stripes have failed to win, scoring in only one of those instances (3-3 draw versus DC United in Leagues Cup).
In this competition, they have a 100% record against Florida-based teams, winning twice, including a 3-1 victory over Miami in Fort Lauderdale in late May.
The comeback team, better known as Inter Miami, reacted well yet again to an early goal on Saturday as they continue to pad their lead atop the table.
That lead is currently 10 points over FC Cincinnati for first in the Eastern Conference, while the Herons can reach 20 triumphs in the league on Wednesday, doubling their total from a year ago (10).
In 2024, Tata Martino's men have come from behind to earn a result on 15 occasions in MLS this year when conceding the opening goal.
Miami have been deadly in the attacking third all year, scoring a league-high 65 goals, made even more impressive by the fact that they have only taken one penalty in MLS this season.
The Herons have won five of their previous six domestic encounters as the visitors, winning all of their matches in this competition since being hammered 6-1 by FC Cincinnati in early July.
This team have only ever claimed one victory against the Five Stripes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, coming away with a 2-1 win in 2022.
Team News
Reserve goalkeeper Quentin Westberg was sidelined for Atlanta this weekend because of a head injury, while Ajani Fortune played 71 minutes after missing time earlier in the campaign with a knock.
Tristan Muyumba also returned to the lineup from a knock on Saturday, entering as a second-half substitute in place of Bartosz Slisz.
The last time they played a domestic contest with Miami in May, Saba Lobzhanidze notched a brace, and Jamal Thiare also netted in a convincing triumph.
Inter Miami did not have Matias Rojas at their disposal Saturday due to a sore ankle, CJ dos Santos was sidelined with a hand issue, Leo Afonso had a groin strain, Lawson Sunderland is dealing with a hamstring problem, while Nicolas Freire and Facundo Farias are recovering from ACL tears.
Sergio Busquets and Tomas Aviles will be suspended for this upcoming clash after each being cautioned in their victory on Saturday.
In his first game back since sustaining an ankle injury in the Copa America final, Lionel Messi looked like his old self, notching a brace, with Luis Suarez netting the other goal, giving him 17 in the 2024 MLS campaign, two fewer than Christian Benteke in the Golden Boot race.
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Lennon, Rode Gregersen, Abram, Amador; Slisz, McCarty; Lobzhanidze, Miranchuk, Mosquera; Rios
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Callender; Weigandt, Kryvtsov, Fray, Alba; Gressel, Ruiz, Redondo; Messi, Suarez, Taylor
We say: Atlanta United 1-2 Inter Miami
Inter Miami looked unbeatable without Messi, and with him, they should be just as deadly and difficult to keep pace with for 90 minutes.
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