The vibes were high there for a second. Now, after a 2-0 loss last weekend at home to Charlotte FC, Atlanta United are faced with a trip down to Miami, where Messi and the Herons are the overwhelming favorites after a 7-1 win over Montréal.
Let’s begin with some head-to-head stats, courtesy of stats.scarvesandspikes.com:
It’s a big task for the Five Stripes tonight. The Charlotte loss exposed a lot of flaws in the squad when facing a team clearly in a higher tier of talent. How about when playing the league’s quintessential team of higher talent?
To get any kind of result in Atlanta’s first trip to Miami’s new Nu Stadium, they’ll have to survive a resurgent Lionel Messi, who scored four goals in his last outing, along with fellow attackers Luis Suarez and Germán Berterame. Together, the trio have combined for 36 goals this season. Atlanta United have scored 25.
Miami’s cast now includes one Matias Galarza, formerly of Atlanta United in the pre-World Cup stage of the season. The Paraguayan midfielder returns to MLS on yet another loan from River Plate, this time ending up in South Florida just before the transfer window closed on Wednesday.
They won’t have newly appointed manager Kily González, though, as he awaits visa paperwork. Managers aren’t exempt from visa rules either, I’m afraid. Interim Guillermo Hoyos will be on the touchline against Tata Martino, who returns to face his former Miami side for the first time since his departure in 2024.
For Atlanta, new additions Breel Embolo and Mauricio Amaro are now available for selection, having joined training this week after finishing the visa process. Both could see their debuts here tonight, but exactly how many minutes is a matter of debate. I’m not sure Embolo, who hasn’t seen competitive minutes since the World Cup, is quite ready to start, but you never know.
Jay Fortune is listed as questionable, as he joined training as well after recovering from a second hamstring strain in a matter of two months. The only player on the roster who for sure won’t feature is midfielder Giuliano Galoppo, who will await his visa after joining on the final day of the transfer window on loan from River Plate. Ronald Hernández also moved on that final day, departing in a trade with Portland and leaving Atlanta with a little less defensive depth than before.
It’s anyone’s guess as to how Tata Martino’s lineup will shake out with so many players now available for selection. Could we see a return of Adrian Gill to the XI after his absence from the starting lineup last week? How will the new additions feature in their potential MLS debuts? Can Atlanta United keep Messi from scoring five goals?
We’ll find out tonight, with kickoff from Nu Stadium set for 7:40 PM ET in Miami. Streaming comes through Apple TV, but if audio is more your vibe, 92.9 The Game has your English language coverage, while La Mejor is your go-to for Spanish radio.
No matter where you are, or how things look on the pitch, feel free to chime in on the match down below in our match thread as the Five Stripes go for the upset.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
TBA
Inter Miami CF’s Lineup:
TBA
How to Watch:
Venue: Nu Stadium, Miami, Florida
Kickoff Time: Saturday, September 5th, 7:40 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: Apple TV
Available Radio: 92.9 The Game, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
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