ATL Standard

Atlanta United is back at home on Wednesday night, aiming to recover from a recent defeat. The 5-Stripes lost to Nashville SC 2-0 and were unable to capitalize on their pre-international break momentum. They now face a challenging match against Supporters Shield leaders Inter Miami CF. Lionel Messi returned to the team after a lengthy injury absence and immediately contributed with two goals and an assist in Miami's 3-1 win against Philadelphia.

In their first meeting this season, Atlanta delivered one of its best performances with a 3-1 road victory over Miami. They aim to replicate that effort on Wednesday. Here are the key factors for Atlanta United's match against Inter Miami CF:

**Urgency and Intensity from the Start**

Atlanta United needs to start Wednesday’s match with urgency and intensity. With only six matches left in the regular season, they are two points below the playoff line. Every minute is crucial. Last weekend against Nashville, they conceded early in the fifth minute. To improve their chances, Atlanta must put Miami under pressure right from the start. Notably, Miami has conceded 10 goals in the opening 15 minutes this season.

**Quality of Miami's Supporting Cast**

While Lionel Messi garners much attention, Inter Miami boasts significant quality even without him. Leading the Supporters Shield race by seven points, they have scored 65 goals this season—eight more than any other team in MLS. In Messi's absence for 15 matches this season, Miami has a strong record of 10-3-2 (W-L-T). Luis Suarez leads with 17 goals, Jordi Alba has recorded 11 assists from left back, and Julian Gressel has added 12 assists from the right flank. Atlanta’s defense must remain compact and alert throughout the match.

**Creating Better Scoring Opportunities**

Post-match analysis of their game against Nashville indicates that Atlanta needs better shooting positions in attack. Their five shots on target resulted in only a combined expected goal (xG) value of 0.6, indicating low-quality scoring chances. They also had just eight key passes—one of their lowest totals this season. To secure victory on Wednesday night, Atlanta needs both higher quantity and quality scoring chances against Miami’s defense. In their previous encounter this season, Atlanta achieved a xG of 3.0 with 21 key passes.

Fans can watch the match on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV at 7:30 pm ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. For radio coverage, tune into Sports Radio 92.9 The Game (English) or La Mejor – AM 1600 (Spanish).