The Five Stripes are back on the road for their second match of the preseason schedule, this time heading westward to take on the Birmingham Legion in an afternoon friendly. Ronny Deila’s squad will look to continue the progress started last weekend in Chattanooga, where Atlanta played two fully rotated squads in 45 minute shifts in a 2-1 loss to Chattanooga FC.
Deila critiqued the team following the last friendly, saying Atlanta played “too much backward” and made him “bored watching it”. Another focus, beyond building up the team’s fitness levels, will be to move the ball more aggressively forward. We’ll see this afternoon how Atlanta United will try to implement their new manager’s words against increasingly difficult opponents, in this case USL Championship’s Birmingham Legion.
Miguel Almiron, who offically joined the team this week, likely won’t feature so soon after arriving back in the United States. Being in midst of the Premier League season, though, he won’t need much fitness buildup, and will likely play with the team for their upcoming matches in Florida.
How will the Five Stripes fare in their second preseason outing? We’ll find out this afternoon, with kickoff at 4:30 PM ET from Protective Stadium. Live coverage can be found on atlutd.com/live, and on the radio from 92.9 The Game.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
Birmingham Legion’s Lineup:
How to Watch:
Venue: Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama
Kickoff Time: Saturday, February 1st; 4:30 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: atlutd.com/live, ATLUTD on YouTube
Available Radio: 92.9 The Game
This thread will be your match thread. We don’t have many rules here. We just ask that you don’t insult each other personally and treat each other with respect. Debates can get heated and that’s fine, but name-calling and petty insults will get you banned. If you see a comment that you feel is out of line, please report it and it will be dealt with.
Every week, Scarves and Spikes brings you original interviews, on-site coverage, live shows/podcasts, and the analysis you won’t find at the bigger national outlets. With 2026 being a World Cup year, Atlanta United facing yet another important transfer window, the U.S. Soccer National Training Center setting up shop in the Atlanta area, and NWSL Atlanta kicking off in 2028, your support helps us do even more.
What you get on Patreon:
- Atlanta United training ground updates
- Discord access — talk Atlanta soccer with the SnS team and other supporters
- Patreon-only mailbags
- Grey Gowder’s analytical deep-dives on roster construction, the academy, ATL UTD 2, and more
Start your free trial
Looked much better this week. Chong Qui (especially), Brennan and Cobb each looked pretty good amongst our younger guys, Alexi looked good, Saba and Thiare looked rusty.
I don’t know how good the competition was, but Birmingham never really seriously threatened to score.
Saba for sure kind of looks like he isn’t able to hit the next gear today. But we are still very fresh into the preseason. So I am not too concerned about rust unless they look bad in our first regular season match
Chong Qui is playing well and showing great work rate. Looks to have some serious upside
Should be 3-0 us.
Is there anything to read on the two groups staying mostly the same from first to second game? Makes me wonder if there’s already a first and second team basically, or if it’s purely a two groups that happen to be made
Second half line-up:
Guzan
Chong Qui, Abram, Cobb, Edwards
Muyumba, Klich, Miranchuk
Brennan, Saba, Thiare
Cobb and Brennan getting extra minutes
https://bsky.app/profile/scarvesandspikes.bsky.social/post/3lh5kiy5ltk2l
Line change!
Work rate is better this week (especially Mosquera), but still a lot of rust.
Good first half. Looks like the second group of players might be even stronger!
First group is looking great to me. Maintaining possession, but with a purpose. In particular Slisz distributing the ball very well, and Wynne making great runs to work with Brennan.
The with a purpose part is something that is foreign to me. During Pineda, it seems like we just kept possession for the sake of it.
I think the last 5-10 minutes they got tired and started to either not possess or not have good direction when they did have possession.
17’s are in full voice! Can be heard loud and proud!
LETS GOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
The starting 11 for the first 45 minutes is very interesting.
Cohen gets the start at GK.
Our backline will be (left to right) Hernandez, Morales, Cobb, and Wynne.
Midfield of Reilly, Fortune, and Slisz (captain’s armband).
Attacking trio of Mosquera, Togashi, and Brennan.
The rest of the guys on the bench:
Guzan
Chong Qui, Abram, Edwards
Klich, Muyumba, Miranchuk
Saba and Thiare
Is Gregersen not available today?
Gregersen, Williams, and Silva are out day to day according to our writers who are at the match. Amador will be out 2-3 more weeks due to his hamstring injury.
Seems like there’s not a ton of mixing between the two teams? I seem to remember this first group was the exact same as the 2nd half last game other than Cobb and Brennan?
Is Miggy playing?!??!
Unlikely. He just flew in, and his arms are probably still really tired.
I’m really excited! USL teams are always a good test!