Match Preview: Atlanta United vs. New York Red Bulls (with Daniel Rebain of Area Sports Network)
Atlanta look to bounce back from their loss in Charlotte while facing the defending Eastern Conference Champions.
Atlanta United (Home) vs. New York Red Bulls
Date: March 8, 2025; 7:30pm EST
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 42,500 capacity for the match.
Tickets: https://www.atlutd.com/tickets/single-matches
How to Watch: Apple TV - MLS Season Pass
Atlanta United return home after a second half collapse and 2-0 defeat to Charlotte FC. They don’t get an easier opponent, either, facing off against the reigning Eastern Conference Champs fresh off a 2-0 win vs. Nashville SC.
All-Time Record:
Red Bulls (25 Goals For) 10-5-3 (15 Goals For) Atlanta United
These two clubs have a history, to say the least. While New York is hated by many teams and may not see this match as a rivalry, United certainly does. What started as a back and forth goalfest between Josef Martinez and Bradley Wright-Phillips has developed into a grudge match over the years. All of Atlanta’s wins have come at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and they haven’t lost the past two matches with 1 win and 1 draw in 2024 (last result was a 2-1 win, where Alexey Miranchuk had a goal and an assist). However, Red Bull usually find a way to get a result in these matchups, and their talent level this year makes them more than able.
Injury Report:
Atlanta United
OUT - Brooks Lennon, Ronald Hernandez, Jamal Thiare
New York Red Bulls
OUT - Wiktor Bogacz, Ronald Donkor, Kyle Duncan, Cameron Harper, Roland Mitchell, Marcelo Morales, Lewis Morgan
QUESTIONABLE - Adri Mehmeti, Serge Ngoma, Tim Parker, Mohammed Sofo
Predicted Lineups:
Red Bulls -
Daniel - Hall for Sofo if he's injured and it's 50/50 between Dylan Nealis and Dennis Gjengaar at RWB. But, Gjengaar is the direct replacement for Cameron Harper who has a knee injury.
Calum - Edwards, though he was poor last week in Charlotte, has to start at right back with Lennon and Hernandez out. Amador returns from injury to a guaranteed spot in the starting 11, and Klich returns from illness (though he didn’t train much this week, so you could expect Fortune there as well).
Analysis/Predictions:
Red Bulls (Daniel)-
I think Red Bull has played exactly up to par their first two games. The should gotten a draw on the road against Cincinnati and the smashed Nashville at home.
Offensively they have been creating chances each game. Game 1 they didn't capitalize but at home they were able to grab two goals. It will be interesting to see who plays next to Choupo-Moting with Lewis Morgan out and Mohammed Sofo questionable. It may be Julian Hall getting a start.
Defensively they have been stable and quite good, especially Alexander Hack. The only question marks is when balls are hit over the defense’s head. The center backs lack pace and that's how the goal was scored on them in Cincinnati.
Prediction: 1-1
I feel like Red Bull will score the first goal on the counter attack. Their press has proven to be difficult and annoying to play against. But, I do think Atlanta's pressure will eventually break through late and sneak a 1-1 draw.
Atlanta (Calum) -
The story that hit Atlanta in the Heinze era of 2021 has hit them again: good first half, poor second half. Defensive mistakes have been the main cause of that. Also, there’s been flashes of connections and potential with the new SLAM front line, but there’s been too much congestion in the final third for it to amount to consistent results.
With the home crowd, Atlanta will have the momentum and the Red Bulls will see themselves on the back foot more often. If United can beat their press (mixed results in Charlotte), if more space is taken by Almiron, Saba, and Miranchuk when combining to move forward, and if Amador can whip the ball in consistently towards Latte Lath, they will triumph. I don’t see the individual mistakes happening again with Williams, and Amador’s positioning will keep Edwards in his place (plus he did well against Zaha individually defending).
Prediction: 2-1 Atlanta United
Red Bulls are a very good team and should not be underestimated, but Pedro Amador will make a difference stretching out both Atlanta and the Red Bulls’ midfield/backline. He gets an assist for a Latte Lath header, and I predict Miranchuk opens his tally from an Almiron assist after a Red Bulls equalizer in the second half.