Atlanta United: 5 key players to watch during busy week

Atlanta United host Toronto FC on Wednesday night and Orlando City on Sunday afternoon. See which five players to watch during this double-match week.

Atlanta United currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference and just one point below the playoff line. Both of their opponents sit above them in the conference so this week’s double slate of games is even more important than usual.

Keep in mind that Atlanta are looking for their first-ever win against Toronto FC. Meanwhile, Orlando City have yet to beat Atlanta United despite six attempts. Atlanta have four wins in the series with the other two matches resulting in draws. In three matches hosted by Atlanta (one at Bobby Dodd Stadium, two at Mercedes Benz Stadium), two have resulted in draws with Atlanta’s lone home win coming last June.

Both Toronto and Orlando are enjoying solid starts to their 2019 campaign after extremely disappointing individual seasons in 2018. Atlanta will need to shut down both teams’ star players, Alejandro Pozuelo with Toronto and Nani with Orlando, if they want to take even one win from the next two games.

See which five players to watch this week as Atlanta look to defend their home.

5. Pity Martinez

It’s taken a few matches, but it seems like Pity Martinez is finally settling in. After joining the team late in preseason, traveling to Argentina for the international break in March, dealing with a hamstring injury, acclimating himself with a new system, and working to get his family stateside, Pity’s production on the pitch has been less than stellar. Based on Sunday’s win over Kansas City, it looks like he might be turning a corner.

Every time he got on the ball, it felt as though he was on the verge of doing something great, whether it was dribbling past a defender, a slick set-up pass, or a dangerous shot on goal. The team will need Pity at his best as Ezequiel Barco is now gone for the month of May on international duty for the U20 World Cup.

With Pity finding his way in a new system and gaining more and more chemistry with his teammates, he will be a key player to watch this week. Since Atlanta will be home for both matches this week, travel will not factor into the team’s performance. Pity should be well rested and ready to go against some solid competition, all in front of the home supporters.

It may be just a gut feeling, but based on how he’s looked in the last couple of matches, I except Pity to find his first goal or assist (or both) between this week’s home matches.