Atlanta United will host Inter Miami at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday in a rematch from the opening round of the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs.
Last week, the Five Stripes played to a 0-0 draw at home to the New York Red Bulls, while the Herons were 1-0 winners over Charlotte FC.
Match preview
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After a strong attacking display in their opening match of the regular season, defeating CF Montreal 3-2, Atlanta have been firing blanks in recent outings.
Ronny Deila's men are goalless in their last two matches played in this competition, which already bests their longest goalless run from a season ago (one game).
Atlanta have not been held off the scoresheet in three consecutive league contests since the 2021 MLS campaign, when they went goalless in three successive encounters.
At the same time, they can post consecutive MLS clean sheets at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, which would equal their longest such streak at home from the previous campaign.
Since coming into the league in 2017, the Five Stripes have never lost a league game played in Atlanta this month, winning all three of their encounters at home in this competition in March of last year.
The Five Stripes are unbeaten in their previous six home meetings against Miami in MLS play, including a 2-1 triumph in game two of their best-of-three playoff series last year, leading to their upset a few days later.
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Early into his tenure as Inter Miami coach, Javier Mascherano has been rather pragmatic in his team selections to avoid overworking his star players and risking injuries.
So far, it has paid off with the Herons yet to lose a match since he took charge and currently riding a five-game winning run across all competitions.
On Sunday, they have an opportunity to do something they have never done since entering the league in 2020, win their opening two regular-season away games.
Inter Miami are unbeaten in their last six regular-season affairs as the visitors, while suffering just two away defeats in this competition since the start of the 2024 campaign.
As you might imagine, for a club loaded with so much attacking talent, they have regularly found the back of the net, scoring in 23 successive regular season games.
The Herons' only triumph versus the Five Stripes in Atlanta occurred in 2020, when they scored twice in the opening 11 minutes and claimed a narrow 2-1 win.
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Team News
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In their draw versus the Red Bulls, Atlanta were without Ronald Hernandez and Jamal Thiare, both of whom had hurt their quadriceps, while Brooks Lennon was sidelined because of a shoulder injury.
Their record off-season signing Emmanuel Latte Lath will be questionable for this match, with the former Middlesbrough striker in concussion protocol earlier in the week after sustaining a knock in their last game.
Brad Guzan, who was one of the heroes in their upset victory against Miami in the playoffs last year, did not have to make a single stop last week to collect his first clean sheet of the season.
On the Miami side, Marcelo Weigandt, Robert Taylor, and Fafa Picault were all sidelined last weekend with sore hamstrings, while Maximiliano Falcon was unavailable with a quad strain.
Goalkeeper Oscar Ustari will be suspended for this encounter after he was given a straight red card in the opening half against Charlotte, while Lionel Messi has been rested in their last two MLS fixtures, but he came on as a substitute in their CONCACAF Champions Cup match versus Cavalier on Thursday, as he and Luis Suarez scored in a 2-0 triumph.
Tadeo Allende had the only goal for the Herons last weekend, with Rocco Rios Novo coming in to finish the job and collect a clean sheet.
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Edwards, Rode Gregersen, Williams, Amador; Slisz, Muyumba; Almiron, Miranchuk, Silva; Lobzhanidze
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Rios Novo; Lujan, Aviles, Allen, Alba; Bright, Busquets, Redondo; Allende, Suarez, Messi
We say: Atlanta United 0-3 Inter Miami
Miami will not forget what happened the last time they played Atlanta, and we expect they will use that upset defeat in the 2024 playoffs as motivation to make a statement on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
