Ninety days after a dream playoff run came to an end at Orlando City in the MLS Eastern Conference semifinals, Atlanta United take the field a much improved (and more resolute) group than it was three months ago.
First up in 2025: CF Montréal on Saturday, in front of what’s projected to be a sellout crowd poised to see record signing Emmanuel Latte Lath make his debut and Miguel Almiron’s return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“Everything’s different,” goalkeeper Brad Guzan said on Thursday. “So it’s not (a sense of) ‘Hey, we have to do this differently than we did last year’ or what not. It’s a new year, it’s a new group ready to get going.”
While Ronny Deila’s noticed many good things in preseason and on the training ground, the telltale sign of whether the message is sinking in will be how the team comes out on Saturday.
“I think we have a consistency in what we have done and we look sharp in training, (but) the game has all the answers so I will answer you after the game if we are ready or not,” Atlanta’s first-year head coach said with a laugh.
 | We’re proud to announce that we’re a partner of Sweetwater Brewing Company, based here in Atlanta! Check out their website at sweetwaterbrew.com for more information. |
The book on CF Montreal
Obviously, Josef Martinez is with the San Jose Earthquakes, but CFM (11-13-10, 34 pts. in 2024) don’t make the playoffs last year without the former Atlanta United great, who saved his best football for last — including pulling Montreal back from a 2-0 deficit in 2024’s Wild Card Round before Atlanta won in penalties.
Giacomo Vrioni (out Saturday due to a groin injury) is now in Montreal after a, well, up-and-down stint with New England: he ended 2024 with nine goals, but seven of those came in a span of eight matches from June to August, and he was goalless in 10 appearances to end the campaign. Former Toronto FC striker Prince Owusu enters the fray up top after scoring nine goals last season.
Also in is Jalen Neal, brought in via trade and inked to a U22 deal, with Hennadii Synchuk, signed from his native Ukraine, on a U22 contract, too. Don’t forget Fabian Herbers, who adds a veteran presence to the midfield.
They weren’t that great a team in 2024, and expert opinion (at least initially) says they won’t be all that good in 2025, either. Tl;dr: Laurent Courtois has some work to do.
Three things to watch
Will he or won’t he? Latte Lath’s a given to take the field on Saturday. Will he start? That’s the big question. He hasn’t been able to train with the team much while waiting for his visa — he made a cameo in the preseason finale against FC Dallas and looked good — so I’d suspect we see him around minute 60 or so.
Miggy’s back. Not even a $22 million signing will be able to upstage Almiron, set to step foot on the turf of the Benz as an Atlanta United player for the first time since MLS Cup 2018.
“I initially saw the Charlotte rumors and I was like, ‘Wow, this is crazy’, and then not too long after that, it was starting to be rumored that he was coming to Atlanta,” center back Noah Cobb told Tyler and me when I asked him what his reaction was to the initial reports of Almiron’s return to MLS. “Having him join the team again is super cool.”
Youth movement? Atlanta’s dearth of outside back depth means that we’ll see Dom Chong Qui available for selection on Saturday as a short-term callup, Deila revealed. Under MLS regulations, a player can be called up from MLS Next Pro up to four times a season and can appear in no more than two matches. While the 17-year-old has impressed in preseason, it’s likely he’s in the team for a “break in case of emergency” situation.
With Pedro Amador out, Matt Edwards, who started at left back against Dallas last week, could get the nod for his first MLS start: the 22-year-old appeared briefly against Real Salt Lake last year.
Atlanta United injury report
Brooks Lennon remains out for the time being, so Ronald Hernandez presumably will get the start at right back for Atlanta. Amador won’t be available for this one, either, but should return to training “next week”, per Deila.
Derrick Williams took a knock in training on Wednesday, Deila added, and after testing on Friday was ruled questionable.
Atlanta United predicted starting XI vs. CF Montreal
Prediction: Atlanta United 3-1 CF Montreal
Latte Lath scores on his debut, Almiron bags one, and Saba Lobjanidze adds a third as Atlanta start the 2025 season on the right foot.
| Get Atlanta United training ground updates, audio and video content you won’t see anywhere else, Discord access, and more. Support us on Patreon and help support independent soccer coverage here in Atlanta! Click here to start a 7-day free trial. |
[…] Atlanta United vs. CF Montreal: Match preview, predicted lineups, and score prediction […]
I’m predicting a chaotic game that is marked by us having unpredictable, fast paced attacks that end up with 1 player taking on 3, a few defensive lapses that give up silly goals, but overall a victory for the good guys.
I think it’ll be a heck of an exciting game to watch and also probably not the “best” soccer
Vamos Atlanta!!
Clarification on the Dom Chong Qui situation. The rule updates changed, and I believe that gives him a bit more flexibility.
“Off-Roster Homegrown Players may appear as short-term call ups in up to six MLS League Season matches per Season.”
Also, they have unlimited non-season match appearances.
either way, I would still see him as a break in case of emergency piece. I would hate to use him in the first match of the season when we don’t know what will happen as the season progresses.
So for Dom it’s four since he isn’t considered a off-roster homegrown player right now. As you said, though, he can appear in as many non-league games (i.e. Leagues Cup) as he wants.
Very excited for this season, hopefully the tactics and players are used correctly and we can make a run at the cup
I missed these Match Previews! Great article and I’m excited for the season. Vamos Atlanta!
I would assume Hernandez would play LB and Edwards will play RB
Feel both will play either side though throughout the match