Atlanta United (11-7-8) will host Cincinnati (16-3-6) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kickoff will be at 7:39 p.m. The game will be televised on Apple TV. You can sync the radio broadcast from 92.9 FM through the app.
Cincinnati manager: Pat Noonan
Cincinnati on road: 4-3-5
Atlanta United at home: 8-2-3
Cincinnati goals for/against: 42/28
Cincinnati expected goals for/against: 37.1/30.2
Cincinnati past five league matches: T-W-W-L-W
Atlanta United goals for/against: 48/39
Atlanta United expected goals for/against: 37.7/30.6
Atlanta United past five matches: W-L-L-W-W
Cincinnati key players
Luciano Acosta: 12 goals, 10 assists
Brandon Vazquez: Four goals, three assists
Junior Moreno: Four goals, one assist
Alvaro Barreal: Three goals, four assists
Atlanta United key players
Thiago Almada: Nine goals, 13 assists
Giorgos Giakoumakis: 12 goals
Caleb Wiley: Four goals, two assists
Brooks Lennon: Three goals, eight assists
Talking points
1. Same 11. With the team on a two-game win streak, it will be interesting to see if manager Gonzalo Pineda uses the same starting 11 for the third consecutive match. The team has another match Saturday, at Dallas, which may factor into who he selects Wednesday. Pineda said any changes made wouldn’t involve more than two players.
2. Watching the standings. Atlanta United is two points behind the three teams tied for second with 42 points. Orlando, of the teams with 42 points, will play at Charlotte on Wednesday. New England will host the New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia will play at Toronto.
3. Stopping Acosta. Atlanta United always has had a difficult time containing Luciano Acosta, whether it was when he was with D.C. United or now with Cincinnati. In 13 appearances, the attacking midfielder six goals and three assists against the Five Stripes. They must know where he is when Cincinnati has possession.
Officiating crew
Referee: Armando Villarreal
Assistants: Diego Blas, Kevin Lock
Fourth official: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
VAR: Sorin Stoica
AVAR: Fabio Tovar
Injury reports
Atlanta United
Out: Gonzalo Pineda (yellow-card suspension), Ozzie Alonso (leg), Franco Ibarra (loan) and Jamal Thiaré (visa).
Cincinnati
Out: Stiven Jimenez (lower leg fracture) and Arquimides Ordoñez (leg).
Questionable: Dominique Badji (leg) and Yerson Mosquera (leg).
What was said
“They are the best team so far. They are the team with most points. They have been very dominant with their style. They have many players in good shape. Good in attack, good in defense. So it’s a very complete team. And yes, of course, it’s something that motivates us to have a good game.” – Pineda
“I think we’ve shown it in the previous two games, but we know that Cincinnati is a good team, but we’re going to try to win.” – Edwin Mosquera, on if a win is a chance to set for the team to itself as an MLS Cup contender
Atlanta United’s predicted 11
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan
Centerback Luis Abram
Centerback Miles Robinson
Right fullback Brooks Lennon
Left fullback Caleb Wiley
Defensive midfielder Matheus Rossetto
Midfielder Tristan Muyumba
Attacking midfielder Thiago Almada
Winger Xande Silva
Winger Saba Lobjanidze
Striker Giorgos Giakoumakis
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1
April 15 Atlanta United 2, Toronto FC 2
April 23 Atlanta United 2, Chicago 1
April 29 Nashville SC 3, Atlanta United 1
May 6 Inter Miami CF 2, Atlanta United 1
May 13 Charlotte 3, Atlanta United 1
May 17 Atlanta United 4, Colorado 0
May 20 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 3
May 27 Atlanta United 1, Orlando 1
May 31 Atlanta United 3, New England 3
June 7 Atlanta United 0, LAFC 0
June 10 Atlanta United 3, D.C. United 1
June 21 Atlanta United 2, New York City 2
June 24 New York Red Bulls 4, Atlanta United 0
July 2 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 0
July 8 Atlanta United 1, Montreal 0
July 12 New England 2, Atlanta United 1
July 15 Orlando City 2, Atlanta United 1
July 25 Miami 4, Atlanta United 0 in Leagues Cup
July 29 Cruz Azul 1 (5), Atlanta United (4) 1 in Leagues Cup
Aug. 20 Atlanta United 2, Seattle 0
Aug. 26 Atlanta United 4, Nashville 0
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 5 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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