Back on the road they go! After making the most of a comfy early home schedule, Atlanta United now heads to Los Angeles to face the Galaxy (10:30 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM). Will they be prepared to face the OnZlatan?
The Galaxy’s newest star striker, acquired from Man U with Total Allocation Money, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been a supernova, taking MLS by storm with three goals (two game-winners) in three appearances over the past month. With Zlatan touring the late-night and early-morning talk shows, it’s been hard to take an eye off him. And maybe that’s been a problem for Ibrahimovic’s own teammates, who have struggled to produce offense when they’re not clearing the way for their Swedish star.
Since that thrilling Zlatan-led come-from behind victory versus new crosstown rival LAFC on March 31, the Galaxy (3-2-1 W-L-T) ran into Sporting KC’s wall, losing 2-0 here at the StubHub Center, then managed to cling to a 1-0 lead in Chicago last Saturday, after Zlatan’s goal concluded the first half.
Acquired from Columbus, Ola Kamara (18 goals in 2017, 5th in MLS) managed to score the season-opening goal for the Galaxy, but he hasn’t logged a goal or assist in any of the five games since. Kamara’s would-be ice-breaking goal off a header last week in Chicago was waved off by a lineman call.
Last year’s top scorer on the team, winger Romain Alessandrini (13 goals in 2017), has only one goal thus far as well, and that was way back on March 4. He is re-acclimating after missing three games so far with an injured hamstring.
To further accommodate the Galaxy’s offensive potential, coach Sigi Schmid shifted the formation from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2 against Chicago, allowing Ola and Zlatan to pressure the goal from the same alignment. “It’s all about are we creating chances or not creating chances,” Schmid told the media ahead of this game, “and I think we’re creating chances… as long as we’re creating chances, I’m OK.”
Versus Atlanta (4-1-1), Schmid will deploy an array of midfielders with a mind toward opening up the Galaxy attack, including Gio Dos Santos, who has also been out for weeks with an injured hammy, and his brother Jonathan, who filled in and played well in Gio’s absence.
How well does Atlanta’s show fare on the road? MLS’ leading scorer remains Josef Martinez, who struggled to establish himself during last weekend’s thrilling 2-2 draw versus NYCFC (sorry, I was so sure Alexander Ring wasn’t going to play!). But Josef has not scored a single goal away from Mercedes-Benz Stadium since the franchise’s very first win, in the Minnesota snow back in March 2017. That’s a span of nine road contests, for him, beyond a calendar year. To pull off road victories, Atlanta United needs Martinez to be more than a mere decoy.
The Five Stripes’ offense will have a boost from the return of the team’s March Performer of the Month. Tito Villalba missed most of the second-half versus LAFC and then the whole game versus NYCFC with a leg injury. His return should help re-ignite coach Tata Martino’s 3-5-2 formation, paired alongside Martinez and supported well by Julian Gressel, Miggy Almiron and the acclimating Ezequiel Barco at midfield.
Having Franco Escobar (concussion) and Greg Garza (tough guy, playing through a torn labrum) back on the pitch will help solidify the defense in front of a very busy Jeff Larentowicz. Whichever team can set up their booming scorers for better shots on goal is likely to come out on top tonight.
Let’s Go United!
~lw3
