Philadelphia look to stay unbeaten in MLS play

The Philadelphia Union aim to extend their unbeaten play in MLS with a road trip to Atlanta this afternoon. With a tied all-time series at 5-5-5, the Union will try to keep their three-game win streak alive against a Five Stripe side that has not lost at home in their three games at Mercedes-Benz this season. However, the Boys in Blue will be at full strength this weekend, returning goalkeeper Andre Blake and forward Mikael Uhre to the lineup for the first time in two weeks. This Sunday’s matinee will take place free on Apple TV or on Fox.

QUICK INFO

• Date/Time: Sunday, April14; 2:30 p.m.
• Site: Atlanta, Ga. (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
• TV: Free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV or Fox

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Atlanta United and the Philadelphia Union will play their sixteenth matchup since Atlanta entered the MLS in 2017. The victor looks to take over the all-time series record with everything squared up at 5-5-5 going into Sunday’s match.
• At the end of last season, the Union grabbed a 3-2 victory over the Five Stripes, with goals coming from Daniel Gazdag, Mikel Uhre, and Julian Carranza.
• Atlanta United saw goals from Thiago Almada and Edwin Mosquera, two large threats to the Union back line going into Sunday’s match.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE UNION

• The Union most-recently extended their win streak to three, defeating Nashville SC on the road last weekend. After starting the season 0-3-0, the Union found victories fast, defeating Minnesota, Portand, and Nashville to climb to second place in the East heading into Sunday.
• Two second-half goals propelled the Union to victory last Saturday, with Julian Carranza netting a skilled goal with the help of Quinn Sullivan before a 90^th minute header off a corner from Daniel Gazdag sealed three points for the U.

With the dynamic duo both netting goals against Nashville, they climbed closer to holding the record for most games with goals scored by a pair on a club.

• Daniel Gazdag is also one goal away from tying the record for total goals across all competition for the Boys in Blue, a record held by club legend Sebastian Le Toux.
• The Union backline looks to remain strong against Atlanta, allowing only two goals in the last three matches.
• After not playing next week, the Union will return home for another Western Conference matchup against Real Salt Lake.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ATLANTA

• Atlanta enter this match with an undefeated 3-0-0 record this season at home, outscoring opponents 9-1 at the feet of Giorgios Giakoumakis, who already has five goals on the season. The squad looks to be the first Atlanta United team to start the season with a 4-0 record.
• However, the Five Stripes will enter the match shorthanded, with both forward Jamal Thiare and defender Derrick Williams out on respective injuries.
• Atlanta played to a 1-1 draw last week against NYCFC without the likes of Giorgios Giakoumakis, Stian Gregerson, and Xande Silva.
• Atlanta United sit just two points behind the Union with 10 (3-1-2), sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference on the season.
• With absences in the offense for the Five Stripes, they will have to rely on 2023 MLS Young Player of the Year Thiago Almada, who has had a slow start to the 2024 season with just one goal in five matches.
• Atlanta United will remain at home next weekend to face FC Cincinnati, who only has one loss on the season (3-3-1).