Sandwiched between a pair of away games on either side, Atlanta United will host Chicago on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium needing to get the win and three points.
Atlanta United (4-1-3) earned a respectable points each from its previous two games at NYCFC and at Toronto, though it feels it could have taken all six, and after Chicago will head to Nashville and then Miami.
So, defeating a solid Fire (2-1-4) team has become paramount.
“So at home, the most important thing is those three points, putting them under pressure and making them feel uncomfortable playing at the Benz,” Atlanta United winger Derrick Etienne Jr. said.
Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda said the players seem up for the challenge.
“They’re hungry, they’re hungry. Not just the guys that play, but also the guys that don’t play,” he said. “I see a lot of competition, probably that’s what is in the back of my head is there’s a lot of competition. Everybody shows well. In the training sessions, it’s hard to tell at times who are the starters, who are not. And that’s a blessing.”
Who will be in Atlanta United’s starting 11 to defend the team’s unbeaten home record will be of interest.
Attacking midfielder Thiago Almada, who wasn’t on the game-day roster for Toronto, has trained this week but still is day to day, according to Pineda. Striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, who left the Toronto game early in the second half with a minor hamstring strain, also is day to day. Together they have eight of the team’s 16 goals and five assists. Caleb Wiley, who has three goals and assists, will rejoin the team for training Saturday after receiving his first cap for the U.S. in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Mexico.
Chicago also may be missing several players, notably Xherdan Shaqiri.
What may equalize the possible absences is the familiarity that Pineda and Chicago manager Ezra Hendrickson have from their time at Seattle.
Hendrickson coached Seattle’s second-division team when Pineda played for the Sounders and remained in charge when Pineda became an assistant under Brian Schmetzer.
“He knows how to prepare his team for a battle,” Pineda said. “That’s how I will describe Ezra, a very smart coach that knows how to get the best out of his players. He put a very good group, a solid group together. And they have gotten some good results.”
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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 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 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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