Atlanta United is back at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this weekend when it hosts the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night. This match is the first of several home matches over the next five weeks. The 5-Stripes will play five of their next six matches at home and are looking to get off to a good start in that homestand on Saturday. Coming off a 2-0 defeat at Charlotte last weekend, Atlanta needs to bounce back and protect the home turf. New York comes in with the same record as Atlanta after blanking Nashville SC 2-0 at home last weekend. Historically, this has been one of the more difficult matchups for Atlanta. They will look to reverse those trends on Saturday night. Let’s take a look at the Tools to the Match presented by Home Depot against New York Red Bulls.
Dictate the match from the opening whistle
When Atlanta and New York meet, it’s almost always a clash of styles. Atlanta wants to control possession and dictate the tempo of the match. The Red Bulls don’t care as much about possession and like to press you early and force you into mistakes. Saturday’s match, as it so often does, will come down to Atlanta being able to handle the pressure and find the space between the lines to unleash its attack. A lot will depend on Atlanta’s backline and midfield being clean on the ball and finding the open man.
Atlanta’s movement among its front four could also be one of the keys to success on Saturday. Miguel Almirón, Saba Lobjanidze and Latte Lath all like to move and switch positions frequently throughout the match. That can always cause confusion among the defense. If Atlanta can take advantage early and score, that will force the Red Bulls out of their preferred style of play and could lead to success for the 5-Stripes.
Don’t allow Red Bulls to strike in transition
The Red Bulls have always been a team that likes to strike quickly in transition throughout their history. They will put a lot of pressure on the ball and try and force mistakes high up the pitch. They have players that can take advantage of those mistakes in the blink of an eye. Emil Forsberg had a very successful career in the German Bundesliga before coming to New York. He didn’t disappoint last season with 10 goals and six assists in all competitions. If he gets the ball around the box, he’s as dangerous as any attacking midfielder in the league.
Mohamed Sofo scored his first career goal last week playing on the opposite wing. Up top, the team made a big signing in the offseason bringing in veteran striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The Cameroon international has scored goals at the highest levels of soccer during his career. Atlanta’s defense needs to stay switched on at all times against this Red Bulls side to keep them off the scoresheet.
Focus and intensity for the full 90 minutes
One of the themes in the first two matches this year has been the tale of two halves for Atlanta United. In both matches, the team looked outstanding in the first half. They controlled the tempo, created plenty of scoring opportunities and didn’t allow nearly any at the other end. But in the second half, teams have been able to create plenty of scoring chances against Atlanta’s defense and all four goals conceded so far have been in the second half. Atlanta’s defense, and team as a whole, needs to remain focused for the full 90 minutes on Saturday. They have to match the intensity that New York is going to bring and keep that intensity up for the entire match. In particular the first 10 minutes to open the second half have proven to be a difficult time for the 5-Stripes in the first two matches. If they can improve in those areas and put together a complete match, they will keep the three points at home this weekend.
