Preview: Atlanta United vs Toronto - prediction, team news, lineups

Two teams desperate to get back into the MLS Cup playoff race will square off in a matinee affair on Sunday as Atlanta United welcome Toronto to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

A 1-1 draw versus the Columbus Crew last week vaulted the Reds up to 12th in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of Atlanta, who were beaten 3-1 by the Colorado Rapids.

Match preview

It has been a season to forget for Atlanta United, who find themselves well behind numerous teams in the playoff picture, and time is not on their side.

With eight matches remaining, they are 17 points below the post-season line and currently on a 10-game winless run in this competition.

Suffice it to say, Ronny Deila’s first campaign as manager has gone about as poorly as anyone could have imagined, with only two points currently separating his side from DC United, who are dead last in the Eastern Conference.

The Five Stripes need at least 19 points between now and the end of the season to avoid suffering their worst-ever campaign regarding points in a 34-game season (40 in 2024).

All four of victories this year occurred at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, while they have points in four of their previous five league contests at home.

Atlanta are unbeaten in their previous five home matches against Toronto, winning this exact fixture last year 2-1 thanks to a goal deep into second-half stoppage time.

Over the past couple of weeks, we have witnessed a resilient Toronto side, who have started slowly but managed to rescue a point with a late goal.

They have collected a pair of 1-1 results, with goals beyond the 75th minute in each of their previous two outings, having claimed four points domestically this year when conceding the opening goal.

Toronto have yet to lose a league fixture in 2025 when netting in the first 45 minutes, winning in each of those previous four instances.

A win on Sunday would give them four away from home this year, which would equal their domestic total from the previous campaign.

The Reds need 14 points from their final eight matches to equal their total from 2024, when they were one win away from a post-season berth.

Robin Fraser’s men have points in six of their last seven league games when finding the back of the net but have failed to score in two of their previous three road outings.

Atlanta United Major League Soccer form:

Atlanta United form (all competitions):

Toronto Major League Soccer form:

Team News

A calf strain kept Jamal Thiare out of the Atlanta fold against the Rapids, Ajani Fortune sat out due to a sore foot, while Matthew Edwards and Pedro Amador were sidelined because of hamstring injuries.

Aleksei Miranchuk scored two minutes after Darren Yapi had put the Rapids in front, but it was all they could manage on the road in Colorado.

Lower body injuries kept Henry Wingo, Zane Monlouis and Nicksoen Gomis out of the Toronto lineup against the Crew, and they will all be question marks this weekend.

Jules-Anthony Vilsaint scored his first goal as a member of the Reds last Saturday since coming over from CF Montreal in a trade, with Matty Longstaff going the opposite way.

Atlanta United possible starting lineup:

Guzan; Hernandez, Gregersen, Mihaj, Lennon; Slisz, Alzate; Almiron, Miranchuk, Lobzhanidze; Latte Lath

Toronto possible starting lineup:

Johnson; Laryea, Long, Rosted, Petretta; Dominguez, Coello, Osorio; Mihailovic, Corbeanu; Kerr

We say: Atlanta United 2-1 Toronto

Lengthy slumps have to end at some point, and this seems like the moment for the Five Stripes to take advantage of a Toronto side struggling to find a lot of quality in the attacking third.

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