Atlanta United will look to break a lengthy winless streak when they host the New York Red Bulls on Saturday evening.
Atlanta (3-12-3, 12 points) hasn’t won an MLS match in its last seven tries (0-5-2) and sits last in the MLS standings as it plays its first home match since May 9. The second-worst attack in the league (19 goals) could soon receive some much-needed help as Switzerland international striker Breel Embolo is reportedly nearing an $18 million transfer from French club Rennes.
Atlanta United already have added defenders Junior Alonso and Paulo Diaz and midfielder Mauricio Amaro during the summer transfer window. Diaz, who signed on July 14, will be available for selection for the first time on Saturday.
“He’s a player used to playing the style that we want to play,” Atlanta head coach Tata Martino said through an interpreter on Friday. “He’s a center back who has a good understanding of how to play out of the back and in the buildup as we want to with the team.”
The Red Bulls (7-7-4, 25 points) snapped a two-match losing streak with a 3-2 win over Orlando City on Aug. 1, helped by Mijahir Jimenez’s first two MLS goals. The 19-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Red Bulls on Friday as the squad officially acquired him from his club in Panama.
Despite having two weeks off so soon after the World Cup break, the team “made the best of it,” said head coach Michael Bradley.
“We’ve had good training in this period,” Bradley said. “As always, we’ve tried to find a balance between work and also making sure that the players get some time off to mentally and physically recharge.”
Bradley, who faced Martino while playing for Toronto FC in 2017 and 2018, will now coach against him for the first time.
“His career speaks for itself (with) the success that he’s had, the clubs that he’s managed, the players that he’s coached, the way that he has been able to get his teams to play,” Bradley said. “Personally, I’m really excited to have the opportunity to coach against him.”
Enea Mihaj (red-card suspension) and Jay Fortune (hamstring) will miss Saturday’s game for Atlanta, while Will Reilly (ankle) is questionable.
Julian Hall leads the Red Bulls in scoring with nine goals, but hasn’t scored in his last five matches. Atlanta’s Miguel Almiron has scored in three consecutive outings.
–Field Level Media
