Atlanta United striker Emmanuel Latte Lath cleared concussion protocol and will be available for Sunday’s match against Inter Miami at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He participated in the contact portions of Friday’s session.
Manager Ronny Deila said that Latte Lath, who leads the team with two goals, may be joined by fullback Ronald Hernandez. Backup striker Jamal Thiare remains out. Midfielder Mateusz Klich suffered a muscle injury during Wednesday’s session and is schedule to undergo testing Friday. Deila said the results will determine if he is available.
Fullback Brooks Lennon is available and Deila said “we will see” if he is good for 90 minutes. It would be Lennon’s first match this season.
“He’s very motivated,” Deila said.
Deila said that having Lennon and Pedro Amador back is important, along with Matthew Edwards, who started on the right the first three matches, and possibly Hernandez.
“You want a lot from these, these guys in running, right?” he said. “So you can change them inside the games as well. Having said that, you are a fullback, so I want you to attack, but number one is to defend. And that’s of course, going to be very important, because they have a couple of players that can hurt us in transition.”
In addition to Latte Lath, the other big question mark — and the biggest reason this match was put on Sunday night — is Lionel Messi’s availability for Miami.
Messi came off the bench in the 53rd minute in Miami’s 2-0 win over Cavalier in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Thursday. It was his first action in four matches. He missed the previous three because of what Miami described as “load management.”
Messi has said in the past he has no problem playing on artificial turf. He started last season’s Game 2 in the playoffs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He came off the bench in the regular-season match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta United captain Brad Guzan provided a milquetoast answer when asked if he wanted Messi to play.
“We’re going to face the 11 players that they put out and whatever players they bring on off the bench,” he said.
Vice captain. Deila said that Miguel Almiron is Atlanta United’s vice captain. It’s an important distinction because in MLS this season only the captains (Guzan) and vice captains are allowed to ask the referee questions about things in matches.
Last week, in the 0-0 draw with the Red Bulls, Latte Lath received a yellow card after he kicked away the ball and proceeded to talk to the referee for several seconds.
Club World Cup photo opp. The trophy for the Club World Cup will be on display for supporters to see and take photos with before Sunday’s match. The trophy will be located near Gate 2’s Gallagher Club. The trophy will be there from 5:30 p.m. through halftime.
The city will host Chelsea versus Club Leon in a Group D match at 3 p.m. June 16, Inter Miami versus Porto in a Group A match at 3 p.m. June 19, Manchester City versus Al Ain in a Group G match at 9 p.m. June 22, a Round of 16 match at noon June 29 and another at 9 p.m. July 1, and a quarterfinal at noon July 5.
Rankings of note. Almiron is tied for fourth in MLS in shot-creating actions (16), five behind the leader, Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar. Centerback Stian Gregersen is tied for seventh in tackles (7), four behind the leader, D.C. United’s Dave Schnegg. Atlanta United is fourth in completed passes into the penalty area (32), four behind leaders San Diego.
One away. Should Lennon start, it will be his 200th in MLS. He started 36 for Real Salt Lake.
Referees. Drew Fisher will referee with assistants Logan Brown and Gianni Facchini, fourth official Sergii Demianchuk, Timothy Ford as VAR and Jonathan Johnson as AVAR.
On air. Jake Zivin will handle play-by-play on Apple, with Taylor Twellman as analyst and Andrew Wiebe will be on the sideline.
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Atlanta United’s 2025 schedule
Feb. 22 Atlanta United 3, Montreal 2
March 1 Charlotte 2, Atlanta United 0
March 8 Atlanta United 0, New York Red Bulls 0
March 16 vs. Miami, 7 p.m., Apple
March 22 at Cincinnati, 2:30 p.m., Apple
March 29 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m., Apple
April 5 vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m., Apple
April 12 vs. New England, 2:30 p.m., Apple, FOX
April 19 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m., Apple
April 26 at Orlando, 7 p.m., Apple, FOX
May 3 vs. Nashville, 2:30 p.m., Apple, FOX
May 10 at Chicago, 2:30 p.m., Apple
May 14 at Austin, 8:30 p.m., Apple
May 17 vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m., Apple
May 25 vs. Cincinnati, 7 p.m., Apple
May 28 vs. Orlando, 7:30 p.m., Apple
May 31 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., Apple
June 12 at NYCFC, 7:30 p.m., Apple
June 25 at Columbus, 7:30 p.m., Apple
June 28 at Miami, 7:30 p.m., Apple
July 5 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m., Apple
July 12 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m., Apple
July 16 vs. Chicago, 7:30 p.m., Apple, FS1
July 19 vs. Charlotte, 7:30 p.m., Apple
July 26 vs. Seattle, 7:30 p.m., Apple
July 30 vs. Necaxa, Leagues Cup
Aug. 2. vs. Pumas in Orlando, Leagues Cup
Aug. 6 vs. Atlas, Leagues Cup
Aug. 9 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m., Apple
Aug. 16 at Colorado, 9:30 p.m., Apple
Aug. 24 vs. Toronto, 5 p.m., Apple
Aug. 30 at Nashville, 8:30 p.m. Apple
Sept. 13 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m., Apple
Sept. 20 vs. San Diego, 4:30 p.m., Apple
Sept. 27 at New England, 7:30 p.m., Apple
Oct. 5 at LAFC, 10:30 p.m., Apple
Oct. 18 vs. D.C. United, 6 p.m., Apple
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