ATL Standard

Atlanta United will face the New York Red Bulls at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this Saturday night, marking the start of a series of home matches over the next five weeks. Atlanta is aiming to rebound from a recent 2-0 defeat against Charlotte and is looking to make a strong start in their homestand. Both teams share identical records, with New York having secured a 2-0 victory over Nashville SC last weekend.

The match promises to be a clash of styles, with Atlanta focusing on controlling possession and dictating the tempo, while the Red Bulls prefer pressing early and forcing mistakes. Success for Atlanta will depend on handling pressure effectively and finding space between lines to launch attacks. The movement among Atlanta's front four players, including Miguel Almirón, Saba Lobjanidze, and Latte Lath, could be crucial.

New York has historically been quick in transition, applying pressure high up the pitch. Emil Forsberg, who joined from the German Bundesliga last season, poses a significant threat with his goal-scoring abilities. Mohamed Sofo recently scored his first career goal, while Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was signed in the offseason as a veteran striker.

Atlanta United needs to maintain focus throughout the entire match. In previous games this season, they have excelled in first halves but struggled defensively in second halves. To secure victory on Saturday, they must sustain intensity against New York for all 90 minutes.