It is setting up to be an important match for both teams with the MLS regular season near its end and points quite crucial. New York Red Bulls come into this one on the back of a rich vein of form and seek to lock in their playoff position. On the other hand, Atlanta United are desperately hunting for a win to end their poor home form and, hopefully, keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
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New York Red Bulls: Riding high and chasing another win
The New York Red Bulls come into this match brimming in confidence after the commanding 4-1 win over Toronto FC. This team has been on a real resurgence of late, piling up some key wins in recent weeks that have them in great position for the playoffs. At the heart of this run: midfielder Lewis Morgan, in great form as of late. Morgan, the target man, has been integral to the Red Bulls' attack, with 13 goals this season. He has always shone against Atlanta United, contributing a total of seven goals in just 10 matches.
Adding to this firepower is the return of captain Emil Forsberg, which has been huge for the Red Bulls. Coming back after a long spell out with injury, Forsberg returned to action in style with a goal and an assist in the win over Toronto. Having bagged 11 in 17 games so far, Forsberg has quickly rediscovered his place as one of the stand-out players for the team, leaving the Red Bulls a couple of wins away from sealing their playoff berth.
Atlanta United FC: Seeking redemption at home
Meanwhile, whereas the Red Bulls are on a hot streak, the situation at Atlanta United FC could not be any different. Coming off a recent home loss to CF Montreal and winless in their last five matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta is in dire need of a positive result in front of their home crowd. That the team fought the Red Bulls to a 2-2 draw just two weeks ago in New Jersey, was a good result, more so because of the high quality of goalkeeper and captain Brad Guzan that day: he made eight saves-which included saving a penalty-and was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday. But individual heroics aside, this is a team that needs more than that if they are to dig themselves out of the hole they are in.
Daniel Rios, though, has scored seven goals this season and therefore is one of the biggest players for Atlanta going forward. That's good for second on the team behind only Saba Lobjanidze. Ríos was very important in attack, but with Atlanta's form all over the place, that pressure to find the back of the net falls more heavily on him. Will he be able to find the target and help Atlanta break up their negative streak?
Head-to-head history and expectations for the match
Historically, New York Red Bulls will have bragging rights in matches between the two, with a record of 9 wins, 1 loss, and 5 draws. They have been good on the road against Atlanta, too, with a 4-1-2 record at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This could give them a slight psychological edge going into the match, but as it goes with soccer, anything can happen, and Atlanta will be highly motivated to try to snap out of their funk.
Backed by the return of Forsberg and Lewis Morgan's red-hot form, the Red Bulls need to feel confident coming into this game, knowing a win would bring them even closer to securing a good playoff position. However, Atlanta United, with Ríos looking to match Lobjanidze in the scoring charts, will fight tooth and nail to turn their fortunes around.
Recent Form and What's at Stake
Both sides get into this important game, but recent form plays a huge role in shaping expectation. The momentum is all in the favor of the Red Bulls as their strong performances stream them further into playoff contention; with such stars as Forsberg and Morgan leading the charge, the team has many reasons to feel confident.
On the contrary, Atlanta United is desperate for answers as a team. They have struggled at home this season, and with the time running out in this campaign, this game counts among their last chances to shift the tide. The question seems to be if Atlanta's inconsistency-hitherto their Achilles' heel-can manage a much-needed home win.
Final thoughts: Who will emerge victorious?
This will indeed be an exciting match between New York Red Bulls and Atlanta United FC, since both teams have everything to play for. The Red Bulls are at the threshold of securing their playoff slot, while Atlanta United is fighting for survival in front of their home fans.
The question remains whether Lewis Morgan and Emil Forsberg can keep the Red Bulls rolling with a good performance, or whether Daniel Ríos and Atlanta United find their way and finally break that home curse to give something to their fans to be proud of. One thing is for sure: this game is going to have major implications on the direction of both teams as the MLS regular season draws to a close.