Brad Guzan, Atlanta United's longtime keeper and a club legend in every right, will add another bit of history to his already storied career Wednesday night. He's set to make his 250th career appearance for the 5-Stripes, the only player in club history to reach that mark. He'll start in goal as Atlanta United hosts rivals Orlando City SC at 7:30 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Head coach Ronny Deila seems to have found a system that is translating good spells of play into results. The 5-Stripes snapped an eight-game winless streak Sunday with a 4-2 win against FC Cincinnati. They'll trot out a nearly identical starting XI Wednesday night, with just one change. Ronald Hernández will replace Pedro Amador in the XI for Orlando, just as he did in the 60th minute of Sunday night's match.
Everything else stays as is. Emmanuel Latte Lath and Miguel Almirón will start up front, and they'll be eager to get back in the goals. Neither of them have scored in four matches, but they've created quite a few great looks.
The midweek match falls just three days after the Cincinnati fixture, but that doesn't faze Deila. He's chosen his side based on their success over the weekend. Still, it might be reasonable to expect earlier substitutions as the gaffer navigates maintaining fitness levels. Atlanta United still has another match this week, a Saturday date with New York Red Bulls.
As for the Lions, they come to Mercedes-Benz having beaten Atlanta United already this season and are 12 games unbeaten in MLS now. It'll be no easy task for the 5-Stripes, but this lineup looks very different to the one that last faced Orlando April 26. The midfield trio of Jay Fortune, Bartosz Slisz and Alexey Miranchuk was in control for much of the Cincinnati match and produced two goals and two assists. They'll be the heart of what Atlanta does in defense and attack Wednesday night.
Here's the full starting XI for Atlanta United vs Orlando City SC:
Brad Guzan (C), Saba Lobjanidze, Matt Edwards, Derrick Williams, Luis Abram, Ronald Hernández, Jay Fortune, Alexey Miranchuk, Bartosz Slisz, Miguel Almirón, Emmanuel Latte Lath
Reserves: Jayden Hibbert, Noah Cobb, EfraÃn Morales, Pedro Amador, Mateusz Klich, Will Reilly, Edwin Mosquera, Luke Brennan, Jamal Thiaré
Roster Notes:
-- Brad Guzan is set to make his club-record 250th appearance for Atlanta United in all competitions. In his ninth year with the club, the 5-Stripes' shot-stopper enters the match second in MLS with 59 saves.
-- Guzan has eight career clean sheets against Orlando City, the most of any team he's faced in his MLS career.
-- Alexey Miranchuk is fresh off his 400th club appearance in his professional career. In the Cincinnati match, he became the first player to record two assists in one game for Atlanta United this season.
-- Saba Lobjanidze will start for the second-consecutive match. He leads Atlanta United players in the assists category this year with five, picking one up on Jay Fortune's goal against Cincinnati Sunday.
-- Luis Abram will make his 50th career start for the 5-Stripes. Deila has called on him to start 10 times this season, Wednesday night would be the 11th, and he's been included in the starting lineup now seven matches in a row. He's played 90 minutes every match of that streak.
-- Atlanta United holds an all-time record of 10-6-7 (W-L-D) against Orlando. In their matches at home, they've outscored the Lions 17-10.
-- The 5-Stripes are showcasing their physicality in the air. They are fourth in MLS this season with a 52.9 percent Aerial Duel Win percentage.
-- Stian Gregersen, Tristan Muyumba and Josh Cohen were labeled as out on Atlanta United's availability report Tuesday. Brooks Lennon, who was listed as questionable, is not listed in the reserves Wednesday night.
