Atlanta United returns from the international break for the first of four away trips this month with a matchup against D.C. United at Audi Field on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
The club is coming off a memorable performance last time out. On March 19, Atlanta United faced a two-goal deficit and was down to 10 men late against CF Montreál. Then, Thiago Almada scored a golazo in the 85th minute and in stoppage time Brooks Lennon converted his first career goal on a direct free kick to earn a positive result and deny Montreál’s first-ever win in Atlanta.
The 5-Stripes play well at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The team has gone unbeaten in 10 straight matches at home. Now, with four away matches upcoming in April, the club faces the challenge of taking that success on the road.
“It’s always different when you play at home,” defender Andrew Gutman said. “Especially in Atlanta, you’ve got the crowd behind you with 70,000 people on any given game. But to be a top team in the league, you’ve got to win away. So we have to take that mentality and confidence we have going into Atlanta games to now go to D.C. and win the game.”
Five Atlanta United players who were away on international duty during the FIFA window are making their way back to the squad. Josef Martínez and Ronald Hernández played in the World Cup qualifiers for Venezuela. Head coach Gonzalo Pineda said that they should be available for Saturday’s match.
Miles Robinson played in all three World Cup Qualifying matches for the U.S. during the March window. The center back is returning from a tremendous effort with the U.S. men’s national team and on Wednesday, he helped the squad qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Homegrowns Caleb Wiley and Tyler Wolff were with the U-20 men’s national team in Argentina. The squad played two matches against River Plate and the Argentina U-20 national team. Wiley started both of those matches and Wolff saw some action as well. Lionel Messi watched some of their games and attended some of their training sessions in Argentina.
(Speaking of which, there was a debate at the Training Ground this week: Messi vs. Ronaldo. Here’s what the guys had to say.)
“If we want to reach our goals, and if we want to be one of the best teams in the league, we have to get points away and we have to start this weekend,” Gutman said.
Matchday Conditions & Player Updates
The conditions in D.C. are a little cooler than what it's been like in Atlanta this week. The temperature at kickoff on Saturday is expected to be around 43 degrees. There’s also a slight chance of rain.
Road tripping to the match? We've got everything you need from places to visit, dining and what conditions to expect at kickoff in our new Traveling Supporters Guide presented by 76.
On Thursday during media availability, Pineda gave a few updates on some players. Luiz Araújo is working his way back from a hamstring injury. Pineda said that he’s progressing well and training individually.
Emerson Hyndman is going through a more long-term recovery, working his way back from an ACL tear he sustained during the 2021 season. He’s been training with the team and is getting close to match fit.
“We’re going to be patient with him,” Pineda said. “When he feels ready, when he feels powerful, when he feels that he can do everything he used to do, then he’ll be available for us.”
About The Opponent
D.C. United is an Eastern Conference club based in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. Like a couple of Atlanta United’s other opponents this season (Sporting Kansas City, Colorado Rapids), D.C. United is one of the league’s 10 charter clubs.
D.C. United is one of the most successful clubs in MLS. The club has won four MLS Cup titles (1996, 1997, 1999, 2004), four Supporters’ Shields titles (1997, 1999, 2006, 2007) and three U.S. Open Cup titles (1996, 2008, 2013). It won the first MLS Cup in league history (1996) and was the first club to win the title consecutively (1996, 1997). D.C. United ranks No. 6 in MLS regular season wins (330).
Bruce Arena was the manager during the club’s early success. Now, the team is led by Hernán Losada, a former attacking midfielder from Argentina. His playing career spanned 15 years, beginning with Independiente in Argentina before he made the transition to Europe to play for Beerschot, a Belgian professional club.
Losada was named the head coach of D.C. United on Jan. 28, 2021. At the time of the announcement, Losada was the youngest active MLS head coach (38 years old).
D.C. United is known for playing a direct style of play. Pineda said the key for his team on Saturday will be trying to be good with the ball. That way, D.C. United will have fewer chances.
“They want to be direct – two, three passes,” Pineda said. “They go long and then they come to the second ball and then they’re very good at attacking the backline. So obviously, we’ve trained how to try to cover that, and hopefully that can work.”
Series History
Saturday will be the 13th all-time meeting between Atlanta United and D.C. United. Overall, the series has been evenly split, the two clubs winning six matches apiece. However, Atlanta United has owned the series as of late, winning two of the last three and both meetings in 2021.
The last meeting at Audi Field between the two sides was not that long ago. On August 21, 2021, Atlanta United traveled to Audi Field and won its fourth consecutive match. Marcelino Moreno led Atlanta United to an important 2-1 win on the road, scoring the game-winner and assisting Martínez’s goal in the 25th minute.
The trip to Audi Field was also the first time Pineda met his team in person after being named head coach on Aug. 12, 2021.
The teams met again at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sept. 18. Atlanta United won 3-2 behind goals from Ezequiel Barco, Martínez and George Bello. Barco scored on a direct free kick, his second in as many games, and had one assist.
2022 So Far
As the series history has been even, the two teams look fairly even in the Eastern Conference table. Going into Saturday, the two clubs sit just one place apart in the standings. Atlanta United enters in sixth place (seven points), D.C. just one spot below in seventh (six points).
Atlanta United started the season with a strong 3-1 win against Sporting Kansas City in the MLS home opener, then was shut out on the road 3-0 against Colorado Rapids. The team bounced back to earn four total points in consecutive matches at home with a win over Charlotte FC and the come-from-behind draw against CF Montréal.
Three of Atlanta’s first four matches have been multi-goal matches. The team scored three goals twice (vs. Sporting Kansas City and CF Montréal). Overall, the team scored eight goals by seven different scorers. However, they also gave up eight goals, a trend the team will look to improve on as the season continues.
On the other side, D.C. United started the season strong winning back-to-back games against Charlotte FC and FC Cincinnati. However, the team’s win streak was short-lived and they lost their next two matches against Chicago Fire and Toronto FC.
"We know they're going to bring a lot of energy,” Gutman said. “We know they like to play direct, they like to transition moments, play an up-and-down type of game. So it’s definitely going to be a battle, and we prepared for it all week. So, I think it’s going to be a good challenge for us.”
D.C. United |
Atlanta United |
|
|---|---|---|
Duel Percentage |
47.1% (24th) |
52% (9th) |
Passing Percentage |
74.2% (25th) |
83.9% (4th) |
Shooting Percentage |
37.5% (T-4th) |
45.6% (3rd) |
Clean Sheets |
2 |
0 |
Players To Watch
Josef Martínez – The club’s all-time leading goal scorer is starting to find his form in 2022. The striker has two goals and two assists so far this season and seven career goals in nine matches against D.C. United. His playing time might be limited due to his callup with the Venezuela men’s national team during the World Cup qualifiers, but if the striker sees the pitch, he’ll be dangerous to D.C.
Thiago Almada – Atlanta United's newest player had a few big moments in March. He joined the team in Atlanta on March 10. Then, he made his club debut against Charlotte FC, coming on as a sub in the 56th minute. The following match, Pineda sent him on at halftime and he scored to aid Atlanta United’s comeback. Next, Almada will look to continue his success and lead Atlanta to its first win on the road this season.
Michael Estrada – Estrada is a new player for D.C. United. He signed with the club in February on a season-long loan from Toluca in Liga MX. The forward from Ecuador has made a quick impact in MLS, scoring two goals in three matches. He joins Ola Kamara in a D.C. United attack that Atlanta United’s backline will need to lock down.
Julian Gressel – Gressel is always a player to watch when these two teams face each other. The midfielder spent three seasons with Atlanta United before being acquired by D.C. United. Atlanta United supporters know how dangerous Gressel can be on set pieces and setting up his attacking teammates. He had 13 assists last season for D.C., nearly tying a career best.
Other Tidbits
- Atlanta United’s defense is looking for its first clean sheet of the 2022 season.
- Atlanta United will be wearing The Forest Kit, the 2022 secondary kit that represents the club’s commitment to sustainability. Check out the details behind the kit’s design and learn more about its story here.
It’s a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff for D.C. United and Atlanta United on Saturday. Click here to learn all the ways to watch, listen and live stream the match.
