Sitting four points off the top of the Supporters’ Shield lead with a match in hand, Atlanta United (4-1-1) is looking to extend their unbeaten run to six on the road against the LA Galaxy (3-2-1). The Five Stripes dismantled the Galaxy in a 4-0 win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium last year, but with new additions and a change of venue, this will be another stern test for the red, black and gold in their first visit to Los Angeles. Make sure to tune in on Fox Sports South at 10:30 EST to catch every minute.
Ahead of this weekend’s match, we broke down the Tools to the Match presented by The Home Depot:
Tame the Lion
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past month, you know that Zlatan Ibrahimovic made a hugely-anticipated switch from Manchester United to LA this offseason. The towering Swede has made an impressive start, scoring three goals in just 137 minutes, averaging more than 2.5 goals every ninety minutes so far. Without Zlatan, that number drops to 0.8 goals per 90 minutes for the team this year, so it’s fair to say he’s made an impact. Ibrahimovic is a complete player, equally as good in the air as he is with the ball at his feet, and he’s shown he’s not afraid to take a shot from distance. But one thing Ibrahimovic isn’t known for is his speed, so keeping a high defensive line could keep him further away from goal where he is most effective. Limiting his scoring chances, including cutting off crosses in from wide areas for his head in the penalty area, will go a long way toward slowing down the Galaxy attack.
Aiming for Alessandrini
Cutting off supply to Ibrahimovic starts with shutting down LA’s dynamic French winger, Romain Alessandrini. One of the brightest spots of the Galaxy’s down season last year, Alessandrini has plenty of speed and a potent left foot that he loves to use cutting in from the right wing. The Frenchman is as dangerous as anyone in the league when allowed to run into space and create chances for his teammates, so keeping a tight mark and not allowing him to hit his full stride will be a crucial part of the Atlanta United defensive strategy. They did an excellent job of this last year, but not letting him behind the defense will be a primary concern for the Five Stripes defenders again this weekend. And if they do stay in front of him, they’ll have to be ready to stop another threat: dangerous crosses from targeted for the head of Ibrahimovic and Ola Kamara in the box. Cutting those off before they reach their intended targets would be a big help for Brad Guzan and the Atlanta United central defense.
Run at the back line
As threatening as LA’s attack can be, there are weaknesses Atlanta United can exploit. The Galaxy’s clean sheet against Chicago last weekend was just their third in their past 14 league matches stretching back to last season. Premier League veteran Ashley Cole is the headline for a backline that most often includes fullback Rolf Feltscher and center backs Daniel Steres and Jørgen Skjelvik, and Cole’s affinity for contributing in the attack can leave vulnerabilities in the back for a fast, counter-attacking offense. LAFC showed earlier this season that quick counters can spread out the Galaxy and work as an effective attacking strategy, and Atlanta United fans know the Five Stripes can counter as well as anybody in the league. Teams can often sit back and defend more on the road –– especially when facing an attack with the caliber of the Galaxy’s –– but getting the red, black and gold into space in transition once they do get the ball could create openings in the LA Galaxy defense.
Follow the Match:
Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. EST, with the match set to be broadcast on Fox Sports South and streamed on Fox Sports GO. You can listen to the game on the Atlanta United app or through one of our radio partners: 92.9 The Game or, for Spanish-speaking listeners, La Mejor Atlanta. Click here for a full rundown of how to follow along with the game.
