Atlanta United travels to the Midwest for a crucial match up against the Chicago Fire, where the 5-Stripes will play their first of three matches in seven days, visiting Austin FC on Wednesday, May 14, and culminating with a must-win at home vs Philadelphia Union (Sat. May, 17 | 7:30 pm - view tickets).
It's an earlier kickoff in Chicago, with the match expected to begin at 2:30 pm ET on Apple TV, and head coach Ronny Deila is using the opportunity to shift his lineup while maintaining the composure of the Starting XI we saw against Nashville last weekend, which had a good first half. Emmanuel Latte Lath and Miguel Almirón will be responsible for leading the attack as Alexey Miranchuk drops back in the No. 8 position to give more consistency to the midfield.
Brooks Lennon and Jay Fortune will be required to control the wings, just as Mateusz Klich will be asked to provide support for Miranchuk as they control the midfield. Derrick Williams and Luis Abram will be holding it back in defense with the support of Matt Edwards who makes his return to the starting lineup after five matches, adn Ronald Hernández, who replaces left back Pedro Amador due to an injury he picked up at training this week.
With only Amador and Stian Gregersen out for this match, Deila hopes the team can find some consistency as we approach the busiest stretch in the calendar. The 17s will have three opportunities to cheer on Atlanta United at home in May as part of their six-match schedule in what's left of this month, after which the team will be on the road until their July 16th home match against Chicago.
Here's the full starting XI for Atlanta United against Chicago Fire:
Brad Guzan ©; Matt Edwards, Derrick Williams, Luis Abram, Ronald Hernández; Brooks Lennon, Alexey Miranchuk, Mateusz Klich, Jay Fortune; Miguel Almirón, Emmanuel Latte Lath
Reserves: Josh Cohen, Luke Brennan, Noah Cobb, Efraín Morales, Edwin Mosquera, Tristan Muyumba, Saba Lobjanidze, Bartosz Slisz, Jamal Thiaré
Match Notes:
-- Brooks Lennon broke the assist record in Atlanta United history last match, with his 40th assist for the 5-Stripes.
-- This will be Jay Fortune's 20th start for Atlanta United in MLS Regular Season play. As soon as the match kicks off he will register his 2025th minute on the pitch for the club.
-- Ronald Hernández makes his second start of the season. His previous start was at the Home Opener, when Atlanta beat Montréal 3-2 where he played the full 90 minutes.
-- Last three encounters between both sides in Chicago ended in a draw (0-0 in 2022, 3-3 in 2023 and 0-0 in 2024).
-- Atlanta has only won once in club history at Chicago in May 5, 2018, with a 2-1 score. However, in the historical head to head, Atlanta has the advantage with 8 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses.
-- This is Chicago Fire's sixth home match this season and they have yet to win at Soldier Field in MLS Regular Season, registering four draws and one loss. They come to this match after eliminating Detroit City FC in the Round of 32 of the U.S. Open Cup midweek.
-- Chicago's last home win was in September 14 when they beat the New York Red Bulls 2-1 last year.
-- Atlanta United's away record this season has the club sitting in one drawn and three losses. Deila and the team hope today's match is the club's first away win since they beat Inter Miami in the Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs, in November 9.
