Atlanta United vs NYCFC Preview - MLS Regular Season

Wednesday brings a full slate of MLS mid-week action and over in the Eastern Conference, we have an intriguing affair between two teams with no shortage of success over the years as Atlanta United welcomes NYCFC to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Georgia. The kick-off for this fixture is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET. Atlanta had a bye this past weekend but did beat DC United 3-0 in their last game. As for New York City, they settled for a lone point in a 1-1 draw with the Columbus Crew on Saturday. Keep reading for the analysis. 

H2H History

NYCFC is actually on quite the run against Atlanta, currently enjoying a seven-game unbeaten run dating back to 2019. During that span, they’ve collected four victories. The reverse fixture at the beginning of the 2023 campaign ended level at Yankee Stadium, with both goals scored within a matter of two minutes in the second half. Expect another entertaining encounter Wednesday.

Atlanta in Respectable Form

After a very disappointing season in 2022 where they missed the playoffs, Atlanta is playing better this year. At the moment, Gonzalo Pineda’s men are seventh in the East with a 7-4-7 record and have scored the second-most goals in the conference with 35. That only trails Columbus, who are ahead of them by two points.

The Five Stripes are led by Greece international Giorgos Giakoumakis in the final third, who has 10 MLS goals to his name this term in 14 appearances. Midfielder Thiago Almada is also a key piece to the Atlanta attack, netting seven times and tallying eight assists. These two are undoubtedly the most important pieces to Pineda’s frontline.

Atlanta is unbeaten in their last six games, but four of those outings ended in stalemates. Last time out, however, they were firing on all cylinders on home soil against DC United. Giakoumakis, Andrew Gutman, and substitute Tyler Wolff all produced the goods to propel their side to crucial three points. Playing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium does appear to be a clear advantage for Atlanta as well, compiling a 6-1-2 record. That’s good news ahead of Wednesday, where the club is a -130 favorite at Bodog.

Poor Season For NYCFC

The Boys in Blue have been such a force in past years, winning the MLS Cup in 2021 and making it all the way to the conference finals last year after finishing in fifth place during the regular season. But that success hasn’t translated to 23’ thus far. Nick Cushing’s squad is way down in 11th spot in the East and not really showing any signs of turning things around.

New York City hasn’t won since April 22nd, a span of nine games. While there have been numerous draws since a lone point isn’t going to get them out of the gutter. Finding the back of the net appears to be a serious issue too, scoring 18 times in as many games. To make matters worse, they’ve only bagged one goal in their last three appearances. The attack is toothless.

Sending talisman Valentin Castellanos on loan to LaLiga club Girona has clearly hurt the Pigeons because he was undoubtedly their best player and a workhorse in the final third. Outside of Gabriel Pereira, no one is getting it done. His four goals and three assists are the lone bright spot. On a more positive note, New York’s track record against Atlanta is worth a look when putting money down on this clash, even though most soccer betting sites have them as a longshot to put up a fight Wednesday.