Atlanta United will host Nashville SC this weekend in MLS, with the home side eager for a victory to boost their push for consecutive playoff appearances after a recent patchy run of form.
The visiting side, sitting 15th in the Eastern Conference table, are looking to end a 10-match losing streak across all competitions and find a way out of their current slump.
Match preview
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With the end of the league season drawing closer and sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference, the hosts are increasingly desperate to secure valuable points and improve their chances of making back-to-back playoff appearances.
The Five Stripes will recognise the urgency of seizing this opportunity to close in on a playoff spot, as they trail DC United by just one point, making every game crucial as the season nears its end.
Despite their inconsistent form, Atlanta's recent 1-0 away win against Charlotte in their last league outing will provide a much-needed confidence boost as that result helped put an end to a brief slump that saw them lose seven of their last ten games in all competitions.
Returning to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta United will be buoyed by their past successes against Nashville, drawing confidence from the commanding 4-0 victory in their most recent home encounter as they look to replicate that result and climb the table.
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The visitors head into this game in a situation that is even more dire; currently in 15th place in the Eastern Conference table with only 26 points from 27 games, their hopes of securing a playoff spot seem to be fading fast.
Nashville's form has been woeful, having endured a 10-match winless streak across all competitions, including eight losses in the league that have now made this fixture against Atlanta a crucial opportunity to turn their fortunes around.
The team's recent performances have been plagued by inconsistency and poor results, with their last win dating back to June, when they secured a 1-0 victory against New York City FC. Since then, they have struggled, with their latest setback being a 3-0 defeat away to Orlando City.
The Coyotes' recent history against Atlanta United has been inconsistent, highlighted by a 2-0 away victory in August 2021 followed by a heavy 4-0 defeat on their next visit, showing how daunting the task of securing any points this weekend may be.
Team News
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The hosts will miss Tristan Muyumba, who is sidelined with a hip injury and is expected to be out until late September.
Quentin Westberg is also dealing with a head injury but is anticipated to return in a few days.
For the visitors, Sean Davis is out with a knee injury and is expected to return by early October. Dru Yearwood is also sidelined with a potential return around later this month.
Lukas MacNaughton and Randall Leal are both dealing with ankle and hip injuries respectively and are not expected to return until mid-September.
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Lennon, Edwards, Williams, Hernandez; Firmino, Fortune, Slisz; Miranchuk, Thiare, Wolff
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Moore, Bauer, Maher, Lovitz; Godoy, Jones; Muyi, Mukhtar, Surridge; Bunbury
We say: Atlanta United 3-1 Nashville SC
Atlanta are likely to secure a win given their strong home form and recent attacking prowess while Nashville have struggled on the road.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
