Two teams intertwined by their history will square off at a pivotal point in the host's season. Atlanta United welcomes Inter Miami CF to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The 5-Stripes and the Herons have shared some iconic battles, but this year it goes deeper than just fiery fixtures. Head coach Tata Martino and Fafa Picault are both facing their old club for the second time this season, now with even more stakes. The 5-Stripes are still six points off a playoff spot, and with just five matches remaining, there's practically no more room for dropped points.
The Walmart Saturday Showdown will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET as the 5-Stripes fight to keep their season alive against the Eastern Conference second place.
Martino and Picault were the team's representatives for media availability Friday morning ahead of a match that will likely define the outcome of the season.
Momentum from the midweek
Atlanta United got back in the win column with a 3-0 result over CF Montréal Wednesday night. The clean sheet effort was convincing, and the attack produced multiple moments of fluidity that kept defenders guessing.
Miguel Almirón, Breel Embolo and Alexey Miranchuk all had their hands in the goalscoring. Almirón had the first, Embolo the third, and Miranchuk's connectivity set all three of the goals in motion.
Martino was pleased with the output, but he also acknowledged there won't be too many similarities in the way Montréal and Miami set up.
"Well, I think one thing really stood out, our effectiveness in attack," Martino said in Spanish. "That's something we've struggled with at times throughout the year, especially in recent matches, when we've had difficulty converting our chances. The other day, we were much more clinical in that regard. Beyond that, this is a completely different match against a completely different opponent."
Mentally, the result was much needed for a team that had failed to win in its two matches previous. Heading into a matchup where the visiting Herons are likely to be favorites, Picault said the squad is searching for reasons to believe.
"I think more than anything ... it's important to build some kind of confidence from somewhere," Picault said. "So, if Wednesday's game was able to do that and put us into a good spot mentally and morally going into the next one, it's very important."
Momentous match this weekend
Atlanta United confronts an Inter Miami team that is the highest scoring in MLS through 29 matches this season, one with stars that need no introducing in Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Casemiro. They do it at home, a place that they're looking to find rhythm
Managers sometimes fall into the trap of trying to gameplan to neutralize Messi, allowing more space for his teammates to run into. Martino knows better.
"No, the attention we need to pay isn't just about him; it has to be directed toward the entire team," Martino said. "[Messi] can start in different areas of the field, both deeper and farther forward, and he can drift into the areas occupied by any of our players."
The reverse fixture wasn't all that long ago, a 2-2 draw in which Atlanta United came back from a goal deficit twice. Embolo scored his first goal as a 5-Stripe, and after scoring the midweek, the Swiss striker will be raring for another standout performance against Miami.
The moment will be one not just for the veterans to prove their leadership, but for the young players to familiarize themselves with the gravity a match like this can create.
It goes hand in hand with another massive match for the club this weekend. Atlanta United 2 kicks off against Connecticut United at 6 p.m. ET tonight in the Second Team's first ever playoff match.
"I think that, for an organization like Atlanta United ... which invests heavily in and makes extensive use of the development of players coming through their academies, this is fundamental," Martino said.
As the month of October gives way and the fall breeze blows into Atlanta, the 5-Stripes will be tested from the top of the club to the bottom this weekend. The First Team are now five matches unbeaten on the road, but it's do or die time within the confines of their vaunted stadium.
"We know that Miami is a team with a lot of quality, that comes with hunger, so it’s not going to be an easy game," Picault said in Spanish. "But we also know the situation we’re in, so it’s going to be a war. We have to take the most points that we can to give us a chance."
