Philadelphia Union
A Clash for Momentum: Atlanta United vs. Philadelphia Union
Will someone find their first win? Atlanta and Philadelphia share a rich history in important MLS matches, but none may be as crucial in recent memory as the two teams’ struggles to find their footing. The 5-Stripes are unbeaten in seven of their last eight MLS home matches against the U, but the Union took the most recent bout last May in a 1-0 victory. Let’s look at the teams in need of a big turnaround this afternoon.
Atlanta Looks to Reignite Success Under Tata Martino
The 5-Stripes find themselves in a similar situation to the Union heading into matchday four: winless. Entering the second match of their homestand, Atlanta looks to build off improvements from last match against Real Salt Lake to attack a vulnerable and struggling Philadelphia side.
Atlanta United, which finished 14th in the Eastern Conference last season, looked to a familiar face to lead the team back to former glory. Tata Martino returns to Atlanta after his stint with the club in 2017 and 2018. United won their lone MLS Cup with Martino, defeating the Portland Timbers in 2018 before leaving to manage the Mexican national team.
Along with Martino, Miguel Almirón returns to the Red and Black from Newcastle. Much of the success of the MLS Cup season can be attributed to Almirón, who led the way with Josef Martinez to bring Atlanta their first trophy only a year into their expansion.
Almirón remains the focal point of the squad, but the 5-Stripes shape up much differently from last season. Defensively, the new additions of Tomás Jacob and Elías Báez outline the center back pairing of Enea Mihaj and Juan Berrocal. Berrocal, who plays for Atlanta on loan from Getafe CF, is one of the only players on the injury report this week. Questionable from a tight hamstring, he should be in the lineup for today’s match.
Alongside his Paraguayan counterpart in the midfield, I would expect Matías Galarza to start or play a vital role as a substitute in the base of the 4-3-3 formation. Galarza, who only signed with ATL last week, made his debut against RSL, providing a dangerous attacking edge to an already strong midfield.
Martino loves to play a possessive game, and a strong midfield against the Union’s biggest hole should help to do just that. Tata commented on this tactic, saying, “That’s the style that we want, to be the protagonist in every match.”
In the attack, designated player Aleksey Miranchuk leads goal scoring across the club. The Russian typically pairs with Emmanuel Latte Lath to create a dangerous and possessive attack for a team that is looking for newfound cohesiveness to correspond to points.
Finally, Atlanta shares some familiar faces with the U in today’s match, with substitute options of Sergio Santos, who played for the Union from 2019 to 2022, and Fafa Picault, who repped the Blue and Gold from 2017 to 2019.
Keys To Success
Breaking down the Union through possession will be the way to home points for Atlanta United. Scoring their first two goals of the season last week, the attack is beginning to click in a team that needed a few matches to work out the new teammates and tactics. The midfield differences between the two teams should be a point of concern for the Union faithful, as various lethal attackers can open their scoring accounts this afternoon.
Union Still Searching for Their First Breakthrough
A win. A point. A goal. A few of the things the Boys in Blue are searching for this weekend. Atlanta presents a great opportunity to turn the ship around in the early stages of the season. However, early misfortunes make this match even more of a must win as the U take their second road trip of the season.
Carnell showed Union fans a bit of a different look in the club’s 1-0 loss to Club America on Tuesday. Late in the match, a substitution of Ezekiel Alladoh swapped the team into a 4-5-1 formation, looking for success with a loan striker while aiming for more control in the central pieces of the field.
In his presser on Thursday, Carnell explained that these tactics relate to the compact and direct playstyle that he wants for his players, saying, “How we ended the game is how we want to start, with that same intensity and energy.”
These tactics may be fruitful against a Martino-style that loves to hold the ball. Atlanta possessed 57% in their loss to Salt Lake last week. Matched with a Union side that finally pressured similarly to last season, if Carnell can get his forwards connected, they could create some real issues for an Atlanta side that concedes the third most of any team in the Eastern Conference.
Where life needs to be found is the midfield. The Union will look to their playmaker, Milan Iloski, but the desire for creativity has been shown in the past by various players on the roster. Most recently, Cavan Sullivan has provided an incredible spark in the forward spaces. However, even defensive-minded players such as Danley and Bueno know how to work into the dangerous parts of the pitch. A swap to a lone striker may give these players the chance to bring that danger back.
On the defensive side of the ball, Blake is well rested after Andrew Rick stood between the sticks against America. Additionally, Makhanya returns from his red card suspension and will join the likely pairing of Sery Larsen, who has proved consistent in his initial matches with the U.
The most interesting piece will be Philippe Ndinga. Philippe played his first 81 minutes with the club in the midweek Champions Cup match, showing raw, mendable talent that will be exciting to watch develop as the season progresses. Only 20-years-old, let’s see if the youthful outside back can find his way into the attacking spaces that the U love to create for their defensive players.
Keys to Success
The Union needs to capitalize on the spaces they create with their compact formation. Much of this falls on the midfield. If the central players can find spaces for wing-backs and forwards to work into, they can create more dangerous final third chances. The U are missing that creative spark to get them over the line, but once this collection of new players finds it, I am confident the floodgates will open.
You can catch this match at 3 p.m. on FOX or MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
