Charlotte FC have come up with better results despite rising injury concerns, while Atlanta United are getting healthier at the right time.
The teams will test their divergent paths Saturday night at Atlanta.
The recent stretch has been an encouraging one for Charlotte FC (3-5-3, 12 points). Last weekend, the club topped New York City FC 3-2 and then he pulled off a 1-0 U.S. Open Cup victory against Orlando City on Tuesday.
Atlanta United (5-3-3, 18 points) has lost its last two MLS games. But forward Giorgos Giakoumakis returned to practice this week after being out since April 23 with a hamstring ailment. Midfielder Franco Ibarra (concussion protocol) also returned to practice.
“Having everyone available is pretty good because I have more options and the mood of the team is also better,” Atlanta United coach Gonzalo Pineda said.
For Charlotte FC, defender Adilson Malanda no longer is listed on the injury report. But Bill Tuiloma, (thigh), Joseph Mora (knee) and Kerwin Vargas (leg) are listed as questionable.
“Given the tight schedule that we’re going to have ahead of us, we try to monitor the squad in the best possible way,” Charlotte FC coach Christian Lattanzio said. “We have to focus on what we have.”
Charlotte will have goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina back in action after he missed the first couple of months of the season following offseason back surgery. Goalkeeper George Marks has an ankle sprain that will keep him out for a couple of weeks, Lattanzio said.
Coming off the road struggles, Atlanta has a home game Saturday and another one Wednesday against the Colorado Rapids.
“We need to take that advantage and make it count with points, three points every time, and we have to start on Saturday,” Pineda said.
Atlanta already defeated Charlotte 3-0 on the road March 11 behind two goals from Caleb Wiley.
“It is a rivalry,” Lattanzio said. “For us, every game we feel is a rivalry. We want to do well and play strong in every game. This one in particular, with the result in the first game. We made mistakes.”
The trip to Atlanta will be Charlotte FC’s only MLS road game in a four-game stretch.
“It is going to be a challenge for us,” Lattanzio said. “Atlanta has several quality players. You have to be careful if you don’t play well.”
–Field Level Media