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

Atlanta United can claim their first victory at the Leagues Cup on Wednesday when they welcome Necaxa to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the first time.

At this tournament a year ago, the Mexicans were eliminated in the round of 32, losing 5-0 to the San Jose Earthquakes, while Atlanta were beaten on penalties in both of their matches and finished bottom of their group for a second time.

Match preview

Starting any competition positively has not been a trademark of Necaxa in recent times, as they lost their opening game of the Clausura and Apertura campaigns this year and have never earned a point in their first match at the Leagues Cup.

Fortunately, in 2024, they were able to recover from an opening game defeat versus Minnesota United (1-0), coming from behind to beat the Seattle Sounders 3-1 a few days later and topping that group.

Defensively, in two appearances at this tournament, this side have struggled to stay strong, conceding a combined 14 goals while netting only four themselves.

Fernando Gago’s men are on a two-match unbeaten run heading into this contest, putting them in seventh after three matchdays of the new Apertura campaign.

Necaxa have scored in 16 of their previous 17 matches played across all competitions and have lost just one of their last seven encounters (3-1 at Toluca).

Their only triumph in this competition occurred when they were leading at the half, while they are unbeaten in their last three Liga MX games when netting multiple goals.

It appears as though the 2025 MLS campaign has fallen off the rails for Atlanta, who are 13th in the Eastern Conference, 14 points below the playoff line with only 10 matches remaining.

That is the last thing many would have anticipated from a side known for spending a lot of money on talent and who added a former MLS Cup-winning coach in Ronny Deila during the 2024 off-season.

Atlanta are currently on an eight-match winless run heading into this tournament, though they have points in four of those previous five games.

They have a total of five victories in the league this year, all of which occurred at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, while they have suffered just one defeat in their last four home contests.

Wednesday will be their fourth Leagues Cup encounter to take place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and this side lost those three prior games on penalties.

The Five Stripes, though have never been beaten a home match versus Mexican opposition after 90 minutes, with their last normal time victory against a Liga MX opponent coming in the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League in Atlanta versus Club America (1-0).

Necaxa form (all competitions):

Atlanta United form (all competitions):

Team News

Against Club America this past weekend, Necaxa were without Agustin Oliveros, who was dealing with a shin injury that he sustained in early March.

Diber Cambindo had the only goal of that game, giving his side a single point after they found themselves behind in the 26th minute to a strike from Raul Zuniga.

As for the Five Stripes, they played their match versus Seattle on Saturday, minus Ajani Fortune, who had a sore foot, and Josh Cohen was sidelined with an arm injury.

Yeimar Gomez Andrade put them in front in their previous match with an own goal after seven minutes, and Aleksei Miranchuk rescued them with an equaliser in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Necaxa possible starting lineup:

Unsain; Rosero, Jacob, Pena, Calderon; De Buen; Monreal, Rodriguez, Perez, Sanchez; Cambindo

Atlanta United possible starting lineup:

Guzan; Hernandez, Gregersen, Williams, Amador; Slisz, Muyumba; Almiron, Miranchuk, Lobzhanidze; Latte Lath

We say: Necaxa 2-2 Atlanta United (Necaxa win on penalties)

Psychologically, Atlanta must be reeling and wondering why they cannot seem to win despite their best efforts, and we believe that will play a factor in this opening game.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.