Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Major League Soccer clash between Philadelphia Union and Atlanta United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
In what could be a season-defining matchup for the two teams, Philadelphia Union and Atlanta United go head to head at Subaru Park in the MLS on Saturday.
With just four games to go in the regular season, both sides are currently separated by just three points in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference standings as they look to secure a playoff spot.
Match preview
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Philadelphia Union kept their hopes of securing post-season football alive last Sunday as they steamrolled DC United 4-0 when the two sides squared off at Subaru Park.
Hungarian forward Daniel Gazdag turned in an eye-catching individual display as he scored either side of half time, with Mikael Uhre and Tai Baribo also getting on the scoresheet to hand DC United their 13th league defeat of the campaign.
Philadelphia Union have now picked up three wins from their four matches in September, having failed to win any of their previous four games preceding this run, including a penalty-shootout defeat against Colorado Rapids in the Leagues Cup third-place playoff on August 25.
With 36 points from 30 games, Jim Curtin‘s men are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference standings, two points above 10th-placed Montreal just outside the coveted play-in places and three above Saturday’s visitors in 13th-place.
Philadelphia Union will be backing themselves to make it three MLS wins on the bounce for the first time since April this weekend as they talk on an opposing side who have failed to win their last five visits to Subaru Park, losing four and picking up one draw since a 2-0 victory in July 2018.
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On the other hand, it was two more points dropped for Atlanta United last Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 draw by New York Red Bulls after conceding a 97th-minute equaliser at the Red Bull Arena.
After Dante Vanzeir and Aleksei Miranchuk scored for either side to end the first half level, Edwin Mosquera put the visitors in front with a 92nd-minute strike but Elias Manoel netted in the seventh minute of stoppage to force a share of the spoils.
Atlanta United have now failed to win six of their last seven games, claiming two draws and losing four, including back-to-back defeats against DC United and Santos Laguna in the Leagues Cup where they finished rock-bottom in Group K.
This poor run of form has seen the 2018 champions fall out of the playoff qualifying places, putting Rob Valentino‘s future at the helm of affairs up in the air, barely three months after his appointment as interim coach.
While Atlanta United set out to end that poor run, recent results on their travels offer little optimism as they are without a win in six of their last seven away games — losing four and claiming two draws — with a 1-0 victory at Charlotte FC on September 1 being the exception.
Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer form:
Philadelphia Union form (all competitions):
Atlanta United Major League Soccer form:
Atlanta United form (all competitions):
Team News
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Philadelphia Union remain without the services of 21-year-old full-back Isaiah LeFlore, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines, having suffered a severe knee injury.
He is joined on the club’s injury table by Jamaican goalkeeper Andre Blake, who has been ruled out after coming off with a groin problem in last weekend’s victory over DC United.
In his absence, 18-year-old Andrew Rick should start between the sticks on Saturday, with Nathan Harriel, Jakob Glesnes, Jackson Elliot and Kai Wagner forming the back four for the second consecutive game.
With his brace against DC United, Gazdag now has 17 league goals, just two behind Christian Benteke at the top of the scoring chart, and the 28-year-old will be one to keep an eye on this weekend.
As for Atlanta United, the duo of Ronald Hernandez and Portuguese forward Xande Silva will play no part in Saturday’s game as they are currently recuperating from ankle and foot injuries respectively.
Veteran goalkeeper Quentin Westberg has been sidelined since early August through a head injury and the 38-year-old is also out of contention for this weekend’s visitors.
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Rick; Harriel, Glesnes, Elliot, Wagner; Flach, Bedoya, McGlynn; Gazdag, Baribo, Uhre
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Lennon, Cobb, Williams, Gregersen, Amador; Fortune, Miranchuk, Slisz; Lobzhanidze, Thiare
We say: Philadelphia Union 2-1 Atlanta United
With just three points between Atlanta United and Philadelphia Union in the coveted ninth-place, we anticipate a thrilling contest at Subaru Park as both sides look to get one over the other.
However, Philadelphia’s home advantage gives them a slight edge and we fancy them to see off the Five Stripes who have failed to win six of their last seven games on their travels.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.