Atlanta United vs. New England Revolution | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Atlanta United vs. New England Revolution
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 32
Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta
October 6 - 3:30 pm ET
WATCH: Univision, Twitter, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

Fresh off a 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls, Atlanta United look to bounce back and create separation from the Red Bulls in the Supporters’ Shield race when they host a New England Revolution side five points below the playoff line and in desperate need of three points.

While the Five Stripes had a three-match winning streak snapped, the Revs suffered a 4-1 loss to Toronto FC last Saturday.

This is the second meeting this season, with the sides playing to a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium on May 30. Teal Bunbury converted a penalty kick two minutes from full time to cancel out a first-half goal by Josef Martinez in the second consecutive draw between the Eastern Conference rivals.

Atlanta United

Atlanta (19-6-6) had a chance to all but wrap up the Shield and clinch a berth in the 2019 Concacaf Champions League, but instead the Red Bulls pulled to within a point of the Five Stripes with a comprehensive 2-0 victory at Red Bull Arena Sunday.

Daniel Royer opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Chris McCann handled the ball in the box and Tim Parker tapped in the insurance goal in the 75th minute and Alex Muyl beat Brad Guzan to a Marc Rzatkowski through ball. It could have gotten even worse, but Guzan denied Kaku from the penalty spot.

“Today we played against the most intense team in the league and we knew that if we didn't match that, they were going to control the game,” Tata Martino said.

Suspended: M - Chris McCann
Suspended after next caution: M - Jeff Larentowicz, D - Michael Parkhurst
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Greg Garza (shoulder surgery), D - Sal Zizzo (right knee injury), D - Mikey Ambrose (right knee surgery)

Projected Starting XI
(3-4-2-1, right to left)
GK: Brad Guzan — Jeff Larentowicz, Michael Parkhurst, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez — Julian Gressel, Darlington Nagbe, Eric Remedi, Ezequiel Barco — Hector Villalba, Miguel Almiron — Josef Martinez

New England Revolution

New England (8-11-11) had a four-match unbeaten streak snapped with a 4-1 loss to Toronto FC at BMO Field Saturday night.

Cristian Penilla opened the scoring in the 10th minute, but the Reds responded with four unanswered goals. Sebastian Giovinco leveled in the 36th minute, Lucas Janson and Victor Vazquez scored five minutes apart and then Marky Delgado put the finishing touches on the rout in the 81st minute.

“Huge game, and another game,” Brad Friedel said of facing Atlanta. “It will be a big crowd, playing against a very good team. … We’ll head down to Atlanta with only one thing in mind and that’s try to get three points.”

Suspended: M - Scott Caldwell
Suspended after next caution: M - Kelyn Rowe
International duty: None
Injury Report: D - Chris Tierney (torn right ACL)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-2, right to left)
GK: Brad Knighton — Andrew Farrell, Michael Mancienne, Jalil Anibaba, Kelyn Rowe — Guillermo Hauche, Luis Caicedo, Diego Fagundez, Cristian Penilla — Juan Agudelo, Teal Bunbury

All-Time Series

Overall: Atlanta United 1 win, 8 goals … New England Revolution 0 wins, 1 goal … 2 draws
At Atlanta: Atlanta United 1 win, 7 goals … Revolution 0 wins, 0 goals … 0 draws
Last meeting at Atlanta: Atlanta United 7, New England Revolution 0 (Sept. 13, 2017)