Atlanta United will be aiming for their first win this season when they welcome New York Red Bulls this weekend.
With the 2025 Major League Soccer season still in its early stages, Atlanta United and the New York Red Bulls prepare to face off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. While the Five Stripes aim to bounce back from a disappointing defeat last weekend, the visitors are on the hunt for their first road victory of the campaign.
Atlanta United’s defensive fragility in the latter stages of matches remains a worrying theme. The club suffered a 2-0 defeat against Charlotte FC on matchday two, further highlighting their inability to close out games, a flaw that haunted them throughout 2024.
Last season, 63% of the goals they conceded came in the second half (31 of 49), and that pattern has continued into 2025, with all four goals against them this year coming after half-time. Head coach Ronny Deila must urgently find a way to shore up his backline in the latter stages of games, particularly with some key defensive absentees weakening their structure.
However, the Five Stripes can take confidence from their strong home record. A victory on Saturday would mark the fourth time they have won their opening two home games in an MLS season. Furthermore, they have remained unbeaten in their last seven regular-season matches when scoring multiple goals, dropping points in only two of those fixtures.
History is also in Atlanta United’s favor heading into this encounter. They have the opportunity to defeat the Red Bulls in consecutive regular-season matches for the first time, having secured a 2-1 victory in this exact fixture last year.
The New York Red Bulls responded well to their narrow 1-0 defeat against FC Cincinnati on matchday one, bouncing back with a 2-0 win over Nashville SC last weekend. That victory not only provided their first points of the season but also ended a troubling five-match winless streak at Red Bull Arena in regular-season play.
However, their struggles away from home remain a concern. The Red Bulls have managed just one win in their last ten MLS road games, a 1-0 triumph over Toronto in October 2024. Their trips to Atlanta have also proven difficult in recent years, having lost their last two visits to Mercedes-Benz Stadium by a single goal. Their last win at the venue came in 2022 (2-1), and they will be eager to put an end to that drought this weekend.
One key statistic in New York’s favor is their record when scoring first. Dating back to 2024, the Red Bulls have won their last five league matches, including playoff games, when netting the opening goal, keeping a clean sheet in four of those victories.
Additionally, they have historically been strong in March fixtures, losing just one of their last ten MLS matches played during this month since the start of the 2023 season. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Atlanta United
Atlanta United will have to navigate this fixture with several injury concerns in their defensive ranks. Ronald Hernandez is dealing with a quadriceps problem, while full-backs Brooks Lennon and Pedro Amador are nursing a shoulder and hamstring strain, respectively. As a result, all three remain doubtful for Saturday’s clash against the New York Red Bulls.
Head coach Gonzalo Pineda made two changes to his starting lineup in their previous match against Charlotte FC, bringing in Derrick Williams and Ajani Fortune to replace Ronald Hernández and Mateusz Klich. With the team still searching for balance in defense, further adjustments could be made depending on the fitness of the absent players.
Atlanta United are expected to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with veteran Brad Guzan retaining his spot as the starting goalkeeper. The backline will feature Noah Cobb at right-back, with Stian Gregersen and Derrick Williams forming the central defensive partnership, while Luis Abram occupies the left-back role.
In midfield, Bartosz Slisz and Mateusz Klich will operate as the double pivot, tasked with controlling possession and shielding the defense. Further forward, Miguel Almirón will play in the attacking midfield role, supported by Aleksey Miranchuk on the left flank and Saba Lobzhanidze on the right. Leading the line as the lone striker will be Latte Lath, who will be looking to capitalize on New York’s defensive vulnerabilities.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Guzan; Cobb, Gregersen, Williams, Abram; Slisz, Klich; Almiron, Miranchuk, Lobzhanidze; Latte Lath
Atlanta United vs New York Red Bulls: Preview and Prediction.
New York Red Bulls
The visitors continue to deal with a lengthy injury list heading into their clash against Atlanta United. Knee injuries ruled out Serge Ngoma, Marcelo Morales, Roald Mitchell, and Kyle Duncan last week, and they remain unavailable for selection. Additionally, Adri Mehmeti missed the previous match due to a sore thigh, Ronald Donkor was sidelined with a shin problem, and Wiktor Bogacz was dealing with a sore back, making all three players doubtful for this encounter.
Despite their injury concerns, the Red Bulls secured a solid 2-0 victory over Nashville SC last weekend, with Mohammed Sofo opening the scoring in the seventh minute and Emil Forsberg sealing the win with his first goal of the season. The attacking duo will look to build on that momentum as they head to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in search of their first away win of the campaign.
Head coach Sandro Schwarz is expected to deploy a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Carlos Coronel starting between the posts. The defensive trio will consist of Noah Eile, Sean Nealis, and Alexander Hack, providing stability at the back.
The midfield will feature Peter Stroud and Daniel Edelman in central roles, flanked by Raheem Edwards and Cameron Harper as wing-backs. Their primary responsibility will be to support both defensive efforts and attacking transitions. Emil Forsberg is set to operate as the attacking midfielder, orchestrating plays just behind the striking duo of Mohammed Sofo and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who will lead the line for the visitors.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Coronel; Eile, S. Nealis, Hack; Harper, Stroud, Edelman, Edwards; Forsberg; Sofo, Choupu-Moting
Atlanta United vs New York Red Bulls: Preview and Prediction.
Ways to Watch
Key Stats
The Five Stripes have continued their trend from last season of conceding late goals. In 2024, 63% of the goals they allowed (31 of 49) came in the second half, and all four goals conceded in 2025 have also occurred after halftime.
The Red Bulls have managed just one win in their last 10 MLS away games, a 1-0 victory over Toronto in October 2024. They are still searching for their first road win of the 2025 season.
If Atlanta United wins this match, it will mark the fourth time they have won their first two home games of an MLS season. Last year, they took maximum points from their first three fixtures at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Since 2024, the Red Bulls have won their last five league matches, including playoffs, when scoring first. In four of those victories, they kept a clean sheet, showing their defensive resilience when taking an early lead.
New York has been historically strong in March MLS fixtures, losing just one of their last 10 matches played during this month since the start of the 2023 campaign.
Player to Watch
Miguel Almiron
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Atlanta United’s midfield maestro, Miguel Almirón, is the key player to watch in this encounter. Since making his return to MLS, the Paraguayan playmaker has quickly re-established himself as one of the league’s most dynamic attacking threats. His creativity, dribbling ability, and knack for finding pockets of space make him a constant danger to opposition defenses.
Almirón’s ability to drive forward with the ball and link up with the attacking trio will be crucial against a disciplined New York Red Bulls defense. His vision and quick decision-making allow him to unlock defenses with precise through balls, while his own goal-scoring prowess adds another dimension to Atlanta’s attack.
Facing a Red Bulls side that has struggled on the road, Almirón’s movement between the lines and his ability to exploit gaps in transition could be the difference-maker. If Atlanta United are to control possession and dictate the tempo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, expect Almirón to be at the heart of their attacking play.
Prediction
Atlanta United 2-1 New York Red Bulls
Atlanta United’s struggles in the second half leave them vulnerable, while the Red Bulls have shown they can hold onto leads when scoring first. However, the Five Stripes have been strong at home, and their attack has the firepower to exploit New York’s inconsistency on the road. Expect a competitive contest, but Atlanta’s home advantage and attacking threat could see them edge a narrow victory.