I have a tremendous dislike for Mercedes Benz Stadium. Okay, not the building itself which is awesome and has tremendously cheap concessions, but the Revs habit of losing my many goals there.
As has been the case since September of 2017 and the infamous first matchup between these teams: the disaster class Kouassi/Delamea first half double red card enroute to a 7-0 loss. And of all the places to visit midweek before a clash in Miami, I'd put Atlanta right about near the top despite the proximity and lighter travel.
However, since allowing that ill-fated touchdown, New England has also had a few crooked-number losses at MBS, though nothing as staggeringly bad as that first result. But as they take the field again against Atlanta United tonight (7:30pm, Apple TV/FS1), they do so riding a three-game winning streak in MLS play and a three-game streak against Atlanta dating back to mid-2024.
While the Revs have done the majority of the winning in this series at home, they have posted a pair of 1-0 wins since that 9-man loss nearly a decade ago. This includes a win last April thanks to a first-half Carles Gil penalty. And low how the mighty have fallen because Atlanta right now, has some issues and a lot of them are not new.
Sam Lattof
The good news is that Tata Martino is back and trying to reclaim the heyday that was the early run for the Five Stripes that saw them win the 2018 MLS Cup and 2019 U.S. Open Cup after their expansion season in 2017. But since then all they really have to show for their efforts is an upset of Inter Miami in 2024 after winning the play-in game.
Since 2020, Atlanta has finished out of the playoffs three times and 20th or worse in the Supporters' Shield standings four times. The Revs have done each three times in the same stretch but did claim the Supporters' Shield in 2021.
But not even Miguel Almiron's return has helped, though he's ruled out for this one leaving Atlanta without his team leading three assists for a team that has just six goals all year.
New England however seems to be losing a regular starter in the first half seemingly every week. Center back Brayan Ceballos, however is only listed as questionable with a groin issue that forced him off early against the Crew. Along with Jackson Yueill (questionable), Matt Polster and Leo Campana are still out, but if the Revs can survive today without Ceballos so he can give it a go against Inter Miami, I think the Revs would be okay with any result today.
Sam Lattof
Ethan Kohler did a fantastic job sliding back from CDM to CB a few days ago and Tanner Beason wore the armband for the Revs home win in Rhode Island against Rhode Island for the Open Cup so they do have options to fill that gap in the backline in the short term.
A successful week for the Revs could very well be just two points but against a struggling and destitute attacking team like Atlanta right now, splitting the week with three points could be very likely as well and a very acceptable outcome for a New England side perhaps surprisingly sitting in fifth place currently.
Perhaps the house of horrors known as MBS might be beginning to fade away...probably not given how much I reference the North American SuperLiga and Joe F Public FC, but I digress.
Here to answer all of our Five Stripe related questions is our good friend Sydney Hunte of the Scarves N Spikes platform, who managed to keep this segment on track despite my best efforts to derail this into a baseball segment where Atlanta United is playing the role of the New York Mess currently. For more content check out their site as well as Sam's answers to Syd's questions.
I do still love my Bravos though, Chop on Hotlanta.
Sam Lattof
TBM: The Atlanta Braves at 15-7 already have more wins than the Five Stripes have points (4) and goals (6) combined...is that bad? if yes, please elaborate. (bonus points for any Jurickson F Profar references, Chop On ATL)
SH: I don't consider myself a soccer genius at all but...that's pretty bad! This team simply can't get consistent production from their designated players and it's been that way for a while. Alexey Miranchuk has been the only one that's shown somewhat of a pulse with four goals, but that's a bit of a low bar, to be honest. Miguel Almiron will miss this one due to knee irritation, but he's a shadow of the player he was during his first spell here. Emmanuel Latte Lath has been anonymous.Tata Martino returned to Atlanta with the hopes of transforming the team into something that resembled what it was in 2017 and 2018. Even he's admitted that the task is much harder than he thought. At this rate, Profar will be back playing baseball before this team wins another match (probably an exaggeration, but had to sneak a Profar reference in their for you.)
TBM: Tata Martino is back and I would expect him to get a fairly long leash to fix things but I don't think back-to-back 14th place finishes would go over well at MBS. How quickly can Martino get ATL back on track? Is the short sprint season next spring or the full 27/28 season a good target for improved expectations and results?
SH: I mentioned it a little in the previous question, but how quickly Martino can get things on track depends on the players Atlanta brings in during the summer transfer window. That might include what Chris Henderson termed a "last resort" option and using one (or both) of their buyouts. I honestly don't think Latte Lath should be excluded from that list because he's essentially taking up a roster spot with very little impact.At the absolute minimum, this team needs a true No. 6. Beyond that, opening up at least one DP slot might be worth having a significant conversation if you're in the Atlanta United front office, especially with new president of soccer Mauricio Culebro arriving from Mexico in July.
TBM: Coming off a shutout loss to Nashville at home, I don't think that was that bad of a game defensively for ATL. Was there any positives to take from that game or something that can be fixed on a short week?
SH: I really like what Matias Galarza, Almiron's teammate on the Paraguay national team, has provided. He was brought in on loan from River Plate shortly after the season started and has played very well, and while his loan will become permanent once he plays in half of Atlanta's matches, I wouldn't mind if they went ahead and exercised their purchase option. Homegrown midfielder Jay Fortune has returned from a long-term injury and has picked up where he left off last year, showing what a critical piece of the puzzle he is. Another, younger, homegrown midfielder is Cooper Sanchez, who just turned 18 and has started all but one of Atlanta's matches. The organization was high on him as he came through the club's pipeline and he's proven them right so far.Again, though, this team collectively isn't good enough. Atlanta held on as long as they could against Nashville before the dam burst, showing that they're still several players away from being competitive in this league.
Lineup/Injuries/Predictions/Etc.
Lineup: (4-4-2 formationally but more like a 4-3-3 tactically) Lucas HoyosElias Baez - Stian Gregersen - Enea Mihaj - Ronald Hernandez; Matias Galarza - Jay Fortune - Cooper Sanchez - Tristan Muyumba; Alexey Miranchuk - Emmanuel Latte Lath
Injuries: As mentioned, Almiron is out, and could be sidelined for up to two weeks. He felt something in his knee during Atlanta's Open Cup match against Chattanooga FC and left the match despite entering as a substitute at halftime.Steven Alzate is out (adductor) along with Sergio Santos (calf). Tomas Jacob is questionable after getting banged up against Nashville.
Prediction: 1-0 New England - Unfortunately for Atlanta, the beat will go on as their losing streak will reach four matches while their winless streak moves to five.
