Atlanta United Vs Real Salt Lake: 5 things we learned from big win

1. Villalba finding his groove

Hector Villalba is on a nice run of form at the moment, with three goals this week across three matches. His performance is comparable to Gressel’s as both players made huge impacts in what was a very important week for the Five Stripes.

After a slow start to the season, thanks to injury, Villalba has really come into his own. In fact, he may be having a better season this year compared to last year. Since Villalba normally plays on the wing in Tata Martino’s system, he puts up balanced numbers between goals and assists. Last year, he scored 13 goals with 11 assists; this year, he’s logged seven goals and eight assists.

Compare those numbers to the minutes he’s played and you get: in 2017, Villalba scored a goal or assist every 115 minutes of play; this season, he’s scored a goal or assist every 105 minutes of play. That’s an obvious improvement and, in the process, Villalba is flying under the radar while Martinez breaks records and Gressel and Miguel Almiron dominate the league in assists.

The best indication of Villalba’s run of form? Since returning to the starting XI on June 30, Villalba has five goals and six assists, all in a span of 13 matches. Those are fantastic numbers. Villalba is hitting his stride at just the right time. And so are Atlanta.