Atlanta United will play at Miami (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.) in its first match in the Leagues Cup. The game will be televised on Apple TV. You can sync the radio broadcast from 92.9 FM through the app.
Here is a scouting report for the game:
Miami manager: Gerardo Martino
Miami at home in tourney: 1-0-0 after a 2-1 win against Cruz Azul.
Atlanta United on road in tourney: 0-0-0
Miami goals for/against in tourney: 2/1
Atlanta United goals for/against in tourney: 0/0
Atlanta United expected goals for/against: 31.7/27.6
Format of tournament:
Each match must have a winner.
If a match is tied at the end of regulation, it will go to penalty kicks.
The team that wins in regulation earns three points.
The team that wins in penalty kicks earns two points.
The team that loses in penalty kicks earns one point.
The team that loses in regulation earns no points.
Miami key players in tournament
Lionel Messi: One goal
Robert Taylor: One goal
Sergio Busquets
Atlanta United key players in tournament
Thiago Almada: Eight goals, 10 assists in MLS play
Tyler Wolff: Four goals in MLS play
Brooks Lennon: Three goals, seven assists in MLS play.
Talking points
1. Messi, Messi Messi. There is no real way to stop Messi, who led Argentina to last year’s World Cup and has scored 711 goals in his brilliant career. The hope, Martino said, is for Atlanta United to keep the ball in hopes of perhaps changing five potential Messi moments into three. Among the keys are to not commit silly fouls and give Messi a chance to take a free kick. His free-kick goal secured Miami’s 2-1 win against Cruz Azul in their opening match in the Leagues Cup.
2. The formation. Atlanta United played with four at the back for most of the season before switching to five at the back in the past few matches. With Miles Robinson back, Pineda wouldn’t say if the team will revert back to two centerbacks. Doing so, would allow Pineda to put in an extra midfielder in an attempt to limit Messi’s effectiveness. Miami will almost certainly play with a 4-3-3 formation using a single striker.
3. Penalty kicks. Should the game go to penalty kicks, Pineda said he knows the team’s best five penalty-kick takers. They have worked on that during the past week. Pineda said he prefers that the team’s best takers go first. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan said he might have some things written down about the tendencies of Miami’s potential takers.
Injury reports
Atlanta United
Out: Franco Ibarra (loan) and Machop Chol (ankle)
Miami
Not available.
Officiating crew
Referee: Mario Escobar
Assistants: Luis Chacon, Humberto Chitay
Fourth official: Julio Luna
VAR: Erick Galindo
AVAR: Oscar Romo
Atlanta United’s predicted 11
I think Atlanta United will switch formations and go to a 4-3-3, or 4-2-3-1.
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan
Centerback JuanJo Purata
Centerback Miles Robinson
Right fullback Brooks Lennon
Left fullback Caleb Wiley
Defensive midfielder Santiago Sosa
Defensive midfielder Ozzie Alonso
Midfielder Amar Sejdic
Attacking midfielder Thiago Almada
Attacking midfielder Derrick Etienne
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 at Miami in Leagues Cup, 7:30 p.m.
July 29 vs. Cruz Azul in Leagues Cup, 8 p.m.
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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