Most of the time, Atlanta United emerged victorious from their confrontations with CF Montreal. However, the visitors will try to put an end to a series of failures at Stade Saputo, but also to find the way to victory this season.
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In 10 confrontations between the two clubs, Atlanta emerged victorious five times and snatched three draws. However, the team has been held in check in Montreal since 2018. The Bleu-Blanc-Noir won 2-1 in the Quebec metropolis on its last visit, in October. Three games at Stade Saputo also ended in a tie.
On March 19, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta United scored two goals in the last minutes of play to tie the score at 3 to 3. Remember that the Georgian team defended 10 once morest 11 and that CF Montreal led 3-1 at halftime.
However, Gonzalo Pineda’s men have won only once in Major League Soccer since. They lost to Charlotte FC and Inter Miami CF, and took a point from FC Cincinnati.
Still, Atlanta sits fourth in the Eastern Conference, nearly tied with Montreal. The two clubs are on 11 points, but the goal differential is in favor of the “Five Stripes”.
An amputated attack
In his game plan, coach Pineda will have to find a way to slow down the attack of the Football Club, carried for several games by Djordje Mihailovic, Romell Quioto and Kei Kamara.
Atlanta’s offense isn’t bad either, but without the injured Josef Martinez, it’s a lot less of a threat at first glance. It is in the finishing that the Mexican pilot would like to see progress, since the chances of scoring are not lacking.
“We can continue to play offensively and create chances. It’s not a bad problem. [C’est mieux] of not being precise when you create chances rather than not creating anything at all. Otherwise, you pray for a combination or a counter-attack or something like that to create scoring chances. We have to do better,” Pineda said, his remarks being picked up by the team’s website earlier this week.
Injuries are very numerous for Atlanta, which will have to manage without several important players for a long period. On Wednesday, goalkeeper Brad Guzan and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso’s season was announced as over. In addition, defenseman George Campbell will be assessed weekly due to a groin injury.
