A Homegrown returns to the starting XI with a point to prove on the road. Will Reilly will be in the midfield for Ronny Deila's Atlanta United side as they travel to face Colorado Rapids on the road. The 5-Stripes will play their third Western Conference opponent of the season, and kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET.
Reilly has been in and out of the starting XI this season, stepping up when called upon. His last feature in lineup was Atlanta United's Leagues Cup match against Atlas FC, a 4-1 win after which he earned the praises of assistant coach Kenny Miller.
"Will's been absolutely outstanding for me," Miller said after the match August 6," "in the games that he's played, whether it be from the start or coming on and impacting the game."
It'll be the former for Reilly tonight, as he starts in the midfield alongside regulars Bartosz Slisz and Alexey Miranchuk. That trio is full of ball-winning ability, and they've been effective in their minutes together at filtering the ball up to Alexey Miranchuk so he can spark attacking chances.
In defense, Enea Mihaj and Stian Gregersen start together at center back, and Ronald Hernández lines up on the right with Brooks Lennon on the left. It's the same backline as last weekend's Montréal match, a mark of consistency Atlanta United has been searching for this season.
Up front, the personnel remain the same as Montréal as well, with Miguel Almirón and Saba Lobjanidze flanking Emmanuel Latte Lath. Almirón continues as captain for the 5-Stripes.
Here's the full starting XI for Atlanta United at Colorado Rapids:
Brad Guzan, Ronald Hernández, Stian Gregersen, Enea Mihaj, Brooks Lennon, Bartosz Slisz, Will Reilly, Alexey Miranchuk, Saba Lobjanidze, Miguel Almirón (C), Emmanuel Latte Lath
Reserves: Jayden Hibbert, Sal Mazzaferro, Juan Berrocal, Nyk Sessock, Tristan Muyumba, Steven Alzate, Luke Brennan, Leo Afonso, Cayman Togashi
Match Notes:
-- Alexey Miranchuk starts his 25th match of the MLS regular season in 2025. The No. 10 is 10th in MLS this season with 6.6 expected assists according to FBref.com. He scored Atlanta United's equalizer against CF Montréal Saturday, Aug. 9.
-- This will be the sixth matchup between Atlanta United and Colorado Rapids in their MLS regular season history. The 5-Stripes are 4-1-0 (W-L-D) in those matches, last traveling to Commerce City, Colo. in 2022.
-- Miguel Almirón leads all Atlanta United players in scoring against Rapids with two goals. He tallied them all the way back in 2018, scoring twice in the first 20 minutes of a 3-0 win September 15.
-- Brooks Lennon, who starts at left back once again, is seventh in MLS this season with 56 crosses from open play.
-- The 5-Stripes will be without four players due to injury Saturday night per the club's availability report Friday. Pedro Amador, Matt Edwards, Jay Fortune and Jamal Thiaré are all unavailable for selection.
-- The club announced yesterday that Sal Mazzaferro signed a Short-Term Agreement for the match. It is the Atlanta United 2 defender's second STA of the season.
