MARIETTA, Ga. — Since the 2018 MLS season kicked off, only two teams have fewer home losses than Atlanta United. One of them, LAFC, just happens to host Atlanta this Friday night (10 pm ET | ESPN — Full TV & streaming info).
And if there’s any home atmosphere in MLS that can rival the homefield advantage Atlanta have created, it’s the fortress that is Banc of California Stadium.
The difficulties of traveling there and performing well are obvious. Aside from the fact that the sheer mileage covered on many MLS road trips making earning away results harder than nearly any other domestic league, the team is just flat-out good. Great, even.
Led by MLS golden boot and MVP frontrunner Carlos Vela, LAFC is on pace to earn an MLS-record 74 points this season under Bob Bradley. Last week, Atlanta striker and 2018 MLS MVP Josef Martinez said the mere prospect of watching LAFC on TV “makes me want to cry,” moved by the beauty of their creativity, flair and attacking prowess.
LAFC's Banc of California Stadium | USA Today Sports Images
And almost no one on Atlanta's roster experience playing at "The Banc," which opened just last season. One of the two players who does is midfielder Justin Meram, who played the second half of Orlando City's 4-1 loss there in July of the 2018 campaign.
"It's a good team, a good environment, a brand new stadium — they have a lot of buzz around them and just overall [Banc of California Stadium] is a really nice place to play,” said Meram. “The pitch is really nice, so I'm just excited. It's going to be a very difficult matchup and two strong opponents going up against each other Friday night will be good to see.”
Atlanta’s recently acquired Mo Adams is the only other player in the squad to have played on the road against LAFC, where he was a substitute in a 0-0 draw for the Chicago Fire in May.
Midfielder Darlington Nagbe said it’s always easier playing in a stadium in which players have some experience.
“I think when you go to a ground a couple times you get some familiarity with it,” Nagbe said. “I think going to a new stadium — obviously they're a good team at home — and for us, and me especially, I've never played there before… If things are going, things are flowing, you leave there with a good memory and when you come back you feel good again. So hopefully we can build a good memory there as a team and come away with a win.”
