Eastern Conference outfit Atlanta United will welcome Western Conference side Seattle Sounders to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium for their MLS encounter on Saturday.
The Five Stripes have picked up seven points from a possible 12 available in their last four home matches, while the Sounders are seeking to avoid a fourth successive away defeat.
Match preview
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Atlanta extended their winless MLS run to three matches after playing out a goalless draw with Chicago Fire last weekend.
The Five Stripes could only register two of their 13 shots on target and they have now failed to score in three of their last five matches, which will be a slight cause for concern for head coach Gonzalo Pineda.
Atlanta, who finished fifth in the Eastern Conference table last season, currently sit 12th in the standings, four points behind Charlotte FC who currently occupy the final playoff spot in seventh.
Since their inaugural MLS season in 2017, the Five Stripes have failed to win any of their four competitive meetings against Seattle, losing once and claiming three draws.
Atlanta's only win against Seattle came in the Carolina Challenge Cup pre-season tournament when they secured a 4-2 win five years ago.
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After losing 2-1 to Western Conference leaders Los Angeles FC at the end of July, Seattle Sounders returned to winning ways with a slender 1-0 home victory against FC Dallas on Wednesday.
The only goal of the game was scored by captain Nicolas Lodeiro, who converted from the penalty spot in the 39th minute to take his goal tally for the season to nine in 23 games across all competitions.
That result has seen Brian Schmetzer's men climb up to seventh and into the Western Conference playoff positions, and they also have a game in hand on Portland Timbers who are sitting one place below them on goal difference.
However, Seattle's hopes of finishing inside the top two for a sixth successive year are in doubt as they currently sit 12 points behind Austin in second place.
The Sounders are now preparing to travel to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the first time since 2018 when they played out a 1-1 draw against Atlanta, a game which saw a Lodeiro penalty cancelled out by a strike from Josef Martinez.
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Team News
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Atlanta are still without Brad Guzan, Dylan Castanheira, Miles Robinson (all Achilles), Ronald Hernandez, Brooks Lennon (both knee), Osvaldo Alonso (ACL) and Emerson Hyndman (muscle) due to injury.
Twenty-year-old goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo is set to remain between the sticks in the absence of Guzan and he could be protected again by a back three of Juan Jose Purata, Alan Franco and George Campbell.
Top scorer Ronaldo Cisneros, who has six MLS goals to his name this term, is expected to start in attack alongside Martinez, with Thiago Almada operating in the number 10 role just behind the front two.
As for Seattle, Joao Paulo is ruled out for the rest of the year with an ACL injury, while Obed Vargas is doubtful with a back problem and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
After missing three games with a hamstring injury, Raul Ruidiaz came off the bench for the final 25 minutes of their goalless draw with Dallas, and the 32-year-old striker is set to be in contention to feature again this weekend.
Fredy Montero is expected to start as the lone striker, with support provided in attack by Leo Chu, Lodiero and Jordan Morris, while Albert Rusnak and Cristian Roldan could continue in centre-midfield.
Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Rios Novo; Purata, Franco, Campbell; Araujo, Sosa, Rossetto, Wiley; Almeda; Martinez, Cisneros
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Frei; A. Roldan, Gomez, Arreaga, Tolo; C. Roldan, Rusnak; Chu, Lodeiro, Morris; Montero
We say: Atlanta United 1-1 Seattle Sounders
Although both sides will be looking to return to winning ways this weekend as they continue to push for at least a top-seven finish, a tight affair could be on the cards here.
Three of the four MLS meetings between Atlanta and Seattle have ended as a draw and with little to separate these two teams, they may be forced to share the spoils again at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
