Atlanta United faces a quick turnaround as they look to avoid a 5th straight loss in a midweek contest against the Colorado Rapids.
Matchday 13 Preview: Colorado Rapids
Colorado comes into this match placed 10th in the Western Conference with 12 points. After starting the season with three losses in four matches, went seven matches unbeaten before losing last weekend to the Philadelphia Union. In that run, they managed only two wins but their form puts them tied for the last playoff position in the West. That span also includes two wins in the U.S. Open Cup.
Many of the issues for Colorado are related to their attacking ability. In 12 matches this season, they have been shutout five times and scored more than one goal in a match on two occasions. One of those occasions came against the lowly LA Galaxy. They are tied with a host of clubs for the second least amount of goals scored with 10, averaging 0.8 goals per match.
The lack of scoring hasn’t come from a lack of opportunities. Colorado are second in the league with 23 big chances created, but lead the league with 21 big chances missed. They average 4.5 shots on target per match with a 4.9% shot conversion rate. Kévin Cabral and Michael Barrios lead the team with two goals each.
The defense has fared better for Colorado. They have conceded 14 goals in 12 matches keeping four clean sheets. Colorado has commonly deployed in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Lalas Abubakar, Andreas Maxsø, and Danny Wilson making up the backline. William Yarbrough has featured in goal in all 12 matches rounding out the continuity in the defense. Yarbrough has made 39 saves this season averaging 3.3 per match.
Colorado has commonly set in defense and allowed teams to control possession. Pairing with that concession of possession, is a lethal counter attack. They lead the league with three goals on the counter attack. Each of those three goals has come in road matches.
Atlanta United
Despite the recent stretch of poor form, Atlanta remain squarely in a playoff position in 4th place with 18 points. However, a gap is beginning to form between the top two teams in the conference. Additionally, positions 6-12 are knotted at 15 points with five teams still with a match in hand.
Deficiencies in attack and finishing has been a major reason for those struggles. The offense has struggled without Giorgos Giakoumakis in the lineup. In the past three matches, Atlanta has only been able to score from set pieces, two corners and a penalty kick, with those goals coming in negligible moments with the game decided.
Giakoumakis returned to the squad last week and subbed in the match in the 70th minute. He was also not present on the injury report released today leading to the belief that he will be available from the beginning for Atlanta or at least in an increased capacity.
Also returning last week was Franco Ibarra. He slotted into the midfield with his common midfield partners Amar Sejdic and Thiago Almada. The return of the “preferred” midfield trio will be short lived as Sejdic is set to miss several weeks following a calf injury sustained in the Charlotte match.
Matheus Rossetto could be set for a return to the lineup in addition to Santiago Sosa who has frequently paired Rossetto this season. Derrick Etienne may also be in line for a start given the absence of Caleb Wiley who joined U-20 FIFA World Cup camp this week.
The continuity of the backline will be interrupted as Andrew Gutman is set to miss this match through red card suspension. Gonzalo Pineda is sticking to his guns and said that he will not be changing the formation of the team. Given that, the lingering question for this week is who fills in the left back position. The leading candidate is Ronald Hernandez who has featured in that position for his national team.
He will join a backline that has not fared will in recent weeks. They have averaged 1.8 goals conceded per match this season with that tally increasing the 2.7 goals per match in the last three matches. The team has also only managed two clean sheets this season. Quentin Westberg has featured in goal in recent weeks in Guzan’s absence. Clement Diop could feature as the squad is rotated.
Atlanta United (5-3-4) vs Colorado Rapids (2-6-4)
- When: May 17th, 7:30 EST
- Where:Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- How to Watch: MLS Season Pass – Apple TV+
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