Both teams will be looking to get off the mark for the season when Atlanta United host New England Revolution in MLS on Saturday night.
Atlanta were beaten 1-0 by Columbus Crew in their only league game so far, while New England have lost both of their games.
Match preview
Having been eliminated 4-2 on aggregate by Columbus in the first round of the playoffs last season, Atlanta would have been desperate to gain revenge on Columbus when they travelled to Ohio on the opening MLS gameweek.
However, Cucho Hernandez's 27th-minute strike proved to be the difference between the two sides at Lower.com Field, despite Atlanta impressively having 53% possession of the ball against last season's eventual champions.
Of course, Atlanta won the MLS Cup in only their second-ever MLS season back in 2018, before lifting the US Open Cup a year later. The Five Stripes have struggled to hit those same heights since, but Gonzalo Pineda has managed to hold onto his job since August 2021.
The 41-year-old will be under pressure to deliver this season, and having been the only team to enjoy a free week last time out, he will be hoping to pile the misery on their opponents on Saturday.
Despite competing in MLS since the inaugural season in 1996, New England have never won the playoffs, having finished as runners-up on five separate occasions.
It is almost a decade since New England last reached the final of the playoffs, though, when they were beaten 2-1 by Los Angeles Galaxy after extra time. The Revs did at least return to the playoffs last time out having missed out in the previous season, losing 4-1 on aggregate to Phildelphia Union at the first round stage.
Former Portland Timbers and Columbus boss Caleb Porter has since replaced Bruce Arena as the club's permanent manager. Arena resigned in September last year following allegations of "insensitive and inappropriate remarks" during his spell as head coach of the United States national team.
Domestically, Porter has not made the start that he would have been hoping for, losing 3-1 away to DC United on the opening gameweek before being beaten 1-0 at home by Toronto. However, his side overcame Independiente in the first round of the CONCACF Champions Cup, before thrashing Alajuelense 4-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday.
Porter will be hoping that his players will not suffer from any fatigue when they arrive in Atlanta this weekend. Only New York City FC and San Jose Earthquakes have also lost two from two in MLS, so he will be demanding a reaction from his players.
Team News
Atlanta will remain without Edwin Mosquera and Derrick Etienne Jr due to groin and ankle injuries respectively, while Jamal Thiare is unlikely to be rushed into action following his concussion.
Pineda's side have had plenty of time to rest and prepare for this game having last played on February 24, meaning that Thiago Almada and Georgios Giakoumakis will be raring to go at the front of Atlanta's attack.
New England, on the other hand, have played four matches since their opponents last competed competitively. Porter made four changes for the drubbing of Costa Rican side Alajuelense in midweek, with Tomas Chancalay likely to go again after bagging a brace in that game.
However, DeJuan Jones will miss out after suffering a head injury during that contest, while Brandon Bye and Dylan Borrero are long-term absentees due to knee issues.
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Lennon, Gregersen, Williams, Wiley; Muyumba, Slisz; Lobzhanidze, Almada, Wolff; Giakoumakis
New England Revolution possible starting lineup:
Ravas; Lima, Jonathan, Romney, Spaulding; Harkes, Polster, Kaye; Gil, Chancalay, Bajraktarevic
We say: Atlanta United 2-0 New England Revolution
Atlanta could be fresh and rusty simultaneously having not played for two weeks, but the positives are likely to outweigh the negatives in that regard given that their opponents have had a busy schedule during that timeframe.
The hosts clearly possess greater quality than the visitors, too, and that leads us to predict a comfortable home win. That would mean three successive league defeats for New England.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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