It’s match number two of the double game week for Atlanta United, and things haven’t gotten much better as the week has progressed. Worse, actually.
The Five Stripes (3-6-3) not only fell 1-0 to FC Cincinnati on Wednesday to drop to seven winless matches in a row, but also lost the services of Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis for this weekend in the process due to injury.
The blows keep coming as clouds darken on Atlanta United’s 2024 season, a promising beginning eroding to push Atlanta’s position down to twelfth in the Eastern Conference through twelve games played. The attack has seemed stuck in neutral, the defense now recovering after being plagued with injuries for weeks. It’s not a great spot to be in for Gonzalo Pineda and his squad, given the outlook and targets made at the beginning of the year to compete for a top four position in the conference.
Nashville SC (3-4-5) aren’t in a much better position, though. Despite a 2-0 win against Toronto on Wednesday, manager Gary Smith was let go after a seven year stint with the club. Nashville sit tenth, and are only two points above Atlanta in the table. The potential for the often quoted “new manager bump” in a home fortress like GEODIS Park, where Atlanta has yet to see a victory, makes for bleak expectations this afternoon in a regional rivalry.
Center back Stian Gregersen will hope to feature in a more prominent role than he did in the midweek, which would help restore some quality in the back line, and Jamal Thiare has returned just in time to fill in for the now sidelined Giakoumakis. How Pineda approaches an Almada-less midfield is more of a question, and one that will preview how Atlanta United will fare later in the summer as the Argentine wonderkid is away for international duty.
Kickoff on the Saturday afternoon spotlight from GEODIS Park is listed for 1:45 PM ET, but will be closer to 2:00 PM with a nationally broadcast on big FOX giving some more lead time. Given that, the match will also stream for free on Apple TV. Radio coverage is provided in English on 92.9 The Game and in Spanish on La Mejor.
Before then, give our match preview and predictions a read to get yourself as prepared as you can be. As always, take your takes to the match thread in the comments below to discuss the pre, during, and post-match action from Tennessee.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
Nashville SC’s Lineup:
How to Watch:
Venue: GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tennessee
Kickoff Time: Saturday, May 18th; 1:45 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: FOX, Apple TV (Free)
Available Radio: 92.9 The Game, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
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Pineda’s seat didn’t get any hotter after that. The team looked better in the 2nd half.
Cobb is going to be out for the rest of the season. You don’t act like that on the pitch and limp off without it being bad. I’ll guess ACL or MCL tear. Guess we’ll be looking for some kind of CB help soon, even if on the cheap.
Morales again looked good. He’s a guy to keep an eye on.
Maybe the team should give Javier Armas a 4 day contract so he can play against Charleston on Tuesday night. He’s played well with the 2s.
Yep, Pineda made the right changes at half given the personnel available.
We definitely need help at CB if Williams isn’t training this week. We have the roster space so make it happen ASAP. Two if we can get them.
While we’re at it, also need a backup winger who can play either side. Xande being out has proven we don’t have a solid backup on the left and if Saba goes out we’re seriously hosed.
Also need a creative midfielder, but I’d assume they’re trying to hold out for Thiago to move before they bring in somebody there. That said, Firmino doesn’t look ready to take over during the international window so options are pretty thin. Maybe Saba in the center with Contract Winger out right?
Lucky not to be down 3-1 now.
I swear that CB for AUFC is cursed. Seems like every year since Parky left has been a serious struggle to keep that group healthy.
Shaffelburg has been tormenting our right side all game.
Uh oh. Saba channeling Villalba and pulling those shorts high.
Also, go Slisz.
Class finish by Slizs
So we don’t practice the final third, right?
Maybe the third or fourth time in 3 years Pineda has made a change at the half. Either Firmino was roughed up, or we’ve reached a turning point.
If I were to bring a sign and leave it in my founders seat instead of me- suggestions on what to say. Frankly if the fans were “fanning” as poorly as ‘team’ is playing, the Benz would be empty. ’
We’re not playing poorly, but we absolutely toothless in the attack. Unfortunately with GG out, I don’t see a way of fixing that outside of throwing numbers forward. Which, at this point, and given the streak, I’d be switching formations to a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 and just go for it. I don’t care if we lose by 3, but I want to see us score a damn goal.
They are already playing a 3-5-2 in attack. The problem has been they just don’t have a player to make the key passes with Almada out. And Nashville has a solid defense which makes it that much harder, especially since they are so strong against crosses.
Those last four minutes it looked line they were just waiting on halftime
It’s quite hot here, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re gassed. Especially after Wed game
The penalty was a huge blow. They need to regroup. Hopefully they can figure something out, but recent history says this score line remains as is until the final whistle. Nashville is more than happy to let Atlanta have the ball the rest of the match if they want it.
Some good play but the last ball continues to elude Atlanta. I like the adjustments and the left side looks at least somewhat dangerous.
Nashville is playing terribly and got super lucky with the penalty call. They had one 3 minute spell of decent play but otherwise they’ve had nothing.
Larentowicz would have given Nashville something to dive about.
If the ref is gonna call a foul anyway, may as well get your money’s worth.
I’m thinking Escobar more than Larry, but yes. With tension high, and the game slipping away, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a frustrated tackle red card. And I’ll enjoy it if it’s on one of their floppers (assuming they aren’t injured for more than the game)
No replay in stadium, fair or foul?
He was jumping/diving a good couple of yards before guzan got to him….. no contact….no sure how you give a foul.
There was clear contact but he was already almost horizontal by that point. Guz has to close him down but needed to get a touch on the ball.
He was diving way before any contact already going down….that’s a dive. The contact did not cause the player to fall.
And the final touch meant Mukhtar had no chance to get the ball again but neither matters once Guz makes contact. That’s never getting overturned after it’s called.
That said, it also isn’t going to review if it isn’t called, so it really was on the center ref there.
Looked like he was going down already but Guz did clip his foot so probably not enough to overturn.
Ehh, it could have gone either way. Mukhtar kind of sells it and forces the contact. But really, the way Guzan comes out and gets nothing on the ball makes it really hard to reverse it.
I feel like every season there is always at least one game where Guzan comes out late and gives away a penalty.
I’d imagine the same could be said of every goalie
Probably. Guzan’s just always seem like from terrible decision making.
HAHAHAHAHA…..great dive!!!!! You can’t make this shit up.
Conti/Longshore just called Mukhtar “gravitationally challenged.”
“It’s amazing he’s able to play at the professional level.”
Decide to watch this since its free while I do chores around the house…..I regret it already..Lennon muppets a ball out for a corner….
Why do we give up a 50/50 by having Guzan boom the ball down field on the kick offs?
I don’t see Guz warming up… late scratch?
It does not bode well for Mosquera that we rather play Hernandez and move Wiley up than start him. Also, really hoping this is cause of Xande still being injured and not that we have reached the throw anything at the wall stage.
It doesn’t bode well for anybody. Except Nashville.
Mosquera hasn’t improved one bit. He’s all speed, no ability. Hernandez is not a favorite of mine but Wiley will be good up high. Cobb with Gregerson is good.
As a long time sports fan, I’ll simply point out that in a general sense when a player goes from years of “Can’t do anything” to his first good season ever, there’s a really good chance that the “Can’t do anything” version of the player is the one you’ll get most of the time and the good season stuff won’t last. See Etienne for an absolutely classic MLS version of that.
Mosquera has a similar profile to Villalba: mediocre starter, and a terror against tired legs.
That is super underrating Villalba. Villalba was a suitable starting forward first season when Martinez was out.
No.
Agree with the sentiment. It was more about reaching the point where we will take Hernandez defensive weakness over Mosquera ever starting.
Xande went 60+ on Wednesday, so doubtful he could start today. He will probably be in around 65-75 min if necessary.
I am not surprised that trying this lineup aligns with Stian returning. Hernandez needs strong leadership or he’s a liability.
Storms, waves, hopelessness, yada-yada, no hope, etc., blah blah blah.
1-3 Nashville.
My prediction exactly. Maybe 0-3. Interesting that Nashville is ahead of us in the standings and already fired their coach.
Nashville has had serious issues since August last year. Atlanta finished the season in decent form, and started this season well. They are in a rough patch but in the grand picture things aren’t that bad. The team is still firmly behind Pineda and until that changes he will probably remain.