When Atlanta and FC Cincinnati met in week five, both teams were figuring out how their big off-season transfers were bedding into the team. Since that 2-2 draw, the two teams have been on a very different path.
ATLANTA UNITED
Entering the year, Atlanta United hoped they could change the trajectory of the team and spent big, bringing in some players who commanded the highest transfer fee in league history. However, the spending increase has not translated to results as Atlanta has earned just 11 Points through 14 games (2-7-5 record) and sit 14th in the East.
The big offseason attacking moves that Atlanta brought in have so far been extremely quiet. Emmanuel Latte Lath (suspended for this game on yellow card accumulation) and Miguel Almiron, brought in for a combined total of $33M, have thus far added only eight goals and three assists. (Kévin Denkey and Evander by comparison have 15 goals and three assists) The Atlanta attack has only scored two or more goals in a game three times this season.
Atlanta has also struggled to keep the ball out of the back of the net, giving up 24 goals, which is the third worst total in the league. They have struggled to find positive defensive actions in the middle of the field as their starting defensive midfielder, Tristan Muyumba, and leading center back, Stian Gregersen, have missed much of the season due to injury. This has left them relying on homegrowns Jay Fortune and Matt Edwards to step up into their roles.
FC CINCINNATI
FC Cincinnati will be looking to build further chemistry. Despite holding on for a 1-1 draw against the Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati gave up a second half goal and struggled to create many opportunities. This has often been a pattern for the team as they’ve allowed 67% of the goals scored against them to happen in the second half of games, including both goals in their previous 2-2 meeting with Atlanta.
Together Kévin Denkey and Evander have scored in six of the last seven games. However, there is still room to grow for the attack, as winger Luca Orellano has yet to log a scoring contribution this season. He may have his attention pulled as rumors of a transfer popped up this weekend from unofficial sources.
With a long summer getting started, FC Cincinnati will be hoping to kick it off to a hot start and a victory in Atlanta.
MATCH INFO
When: Sunday, 7pm
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Watch: Apple TV+
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