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Atlanta United Vs New York Red Bulls: 5 players to watch – Vivacious Villalba

By Josh Bouland

ATLANTA, GA SEPTEMBER 22: Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan (1) reacts after teammate Julian Gressel scored a goal in the first half during the match between Atlanta United and Real Salt Lake on September 22nd, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. Atlanta United FC defeated Real Salt Lake by a score of 2 to 0. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA SEPTEMBER 22: Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan (1) reacts after teammate Julian Gressel scored a goal in the first half during the match between Atlanta United and Real Salt Lake on September 22nd, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. Atlanta United FC defeated Real Salt Lake by a score of 2 to 0. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Atlanta United, Julian Gressel
ATLANTA, GA SEPTEMBER 22: Atlanta’s Julian Gressel (24) gives a thumbs up to the crowd following the conclusion of the match between Atlanta United and Real Salt Lake on September 22nd, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. Atlanta United FC defeated Real Salt Lake by a score of 2 to 0. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Julian Gressel

Gresselmania is at an all-time high right now. Julian Gressel is experiencing the hottest streak of his young MLS career. In his last six games, the German has six assists and a goal. Just last week he tallied four assists and a goal across three games.

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Gressel is in the midst of a fantastic sophomore season. This comes after winning the MLS Rookie of the Year award the season before. In 2017, he logged five goals and nine assists. This season, he has improved on those numbers, logging three goals and 14 assists.

Unfortunately, Gressel’s numbers against the Red Bulls are also extremely poor. Through three matches and 269 minutes, he has no assists, no goals, and only three shots, all of which came in their meeting last October. None of those shots landed on goal either.

Hopefully, things will be different this Sunday because of Gressel’s recent hot streak. More pertinently, his recent form has far outweighed that of previous run-ups to the Reb Bulls clash. Here are his numbers leading into this season’s match in May and last season’s match in October, from the previous three matches before each game against New York (there is no lead up to last season’s match in March since the game was played on opening weekend):

  • Before May 20: 3 games, 0 G, 0 A, 2 shots, 1 on goal
  • Before October 15: 3 games, 2 G, 1 A, 7 shots, 4 on goal

Clearly, these numbers show there is no correlation between Gressel’s previous matches leading into a match with New York. Hopefully, Gressel can break through and have a stellar performance against Red Bulls, since it has yet to happen in Atlanta’s existence.

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