If you’re like a good chunk of Atlanta United fans who can’t stand Orlando City, you’re in luck: they’ll play each other twice in the span of four days. First up: Saturday, Atlanta’s second-to-last league match before the World Cup break, before the clubs meet again on Tuesday in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal.
Get ready for Atlanta United at Orlando City
Scarves and Spikes Prematch Show | Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET on YouTube
Instant reaction to Atlanta United’s starting XI, plus a final outlook before kickoff.
The scoop on Orlando City
4-8-1, 13 points, 12th in East
Last result: W 4-3 vs. Philadelphia Union
There’s just something about Orlando City and 4-3 results. After taking a 3-1 lead in the 71st minute through Duncan McGuire, Orlando found itself tied 3-3 in less than 10 minutes behind goals from Cavan Sullivan (74′) and Ben Bender (78′) before Martรญn Ojeda scored his second of the match and team-high ninth of the season in the 89th.
After รscar Pareja’s sacking and Martรญn Perelman’s appointment as interim head coach, Orlando’s actually a respectable 4-5-1. I’m not sure if it will be enough to get him the permanent gig, but there’s been at least something resembling a new coach bump.
Also, they’re adding that Antoine Griezmann guy in the summer, so we’ll see how things play out there.
Atlanta United vs. Orlando City injuries
Miguel Almiron is listed as questionable and is “85-90 percent” healthy after dealing with knee irritation, Tata Martino said on Thursday. (I, personally, wouldn’t count on him starting.) Will Reilly turned his ankle in training and is being monitored, but he wasn’t on the report. Neither were Steven Alzate (for the first time in weeks) and Ronald Hernรกndez.
For Orlando, Marco Paลกaliฤ has been dealing with a thigh injury but entered as a late substitute during Wednesday’s win over the Union. I expect he won’t start this one as he continues to get back to fitness, with the intent to have him in a larger role on Tuesday. Joran Gerbet had ACL surgery in October and is out for the foreseeable future.
Atlanta United’s projected lineup against Orlando City (4-3-3)
GK: Jayden Hibbert
D: Pedro Amador, Juan Berrocal, Ronald Hernรกndez, Matt Edwards
M: Tristan Muyumba, Tomรกs Jacob, Jay Fortune
F: Fafรก Picault, Sergio Santos, Luke Brennan
Score prediction: Orlando City 1-0 Atlanta United
This will probably go down as a loss for Atlanta, but the real focus will be on Tuesday as it looks to punch its ticket to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals.
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Is this really the line up we are going with!?
My gut tells me we go into both of these games with mixed starter and bench lineups, resulting in poor results for both. Hope I am wrong, and we go all-in on the Open Cup.