Atlanta United vs. Orlando City SC | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 8
Atlanta United vs. Orlando City SC
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta
August 29 – 3:30 PM ET

TV: Univision

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

A rivalry is renewed Saturday afternoon when Atlanta United host Orlando City SC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The rivalry has been one-way traffic from the start, with Atlanta Untied unbeaten in eight all-time meetings and are 2-0-2 at home. But this is the best version of Orlando City SC, which will fly to Atlanta a confidence group.

Both teams are coming off victories over Nashville SC, with the Five Stripes winning 2-0 on the weekend, while Orlando City SC defeated the same expansion side 3-1 at Exploria Stadium in the only MLS game played Wednesday night.

Atlanta United

Atlanta United were scheduled to play Inter Miami CF in Fort Lauderdale Wednesday night, but the players decided to sit out the match, following the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, who didn't report to the court for their scheduled playoff game against the Orlando Magic that afternoon, as players continue to support the Black Lives Matter movement and protests against the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

“It was a decision we felt we needed to make that was bigger than the two locker rooms," Jeff Larentowicz told media on a video conference call on Thursday. "It was an acknowledgment of emotions on high. Before we’re athletes, we’re humans.”

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Josef Martinez (F) - torn ACL
- OUT: Fernando Meza (D) - knee injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Ezequiel Barco (M) - lower body injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Emerson Hyndman (M) - lower body injury
Suspended: Franco Escobar (D)
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

Orlando City SC

Daryl Dike scored a brace and Chris Mueller added his team-leading fifth goal of the season to lead Orlando City SC to a 3-1 victory over Nashville SC at Exploria Stadium on Wednesday. The Lions bounced back from a weekend loss to Inter Miami, but felt backlash by some for the collective decision to play.

“I understand maybe some people who think we should have not played,” Pareja said on Thursday. “I think we would have done it. I think we would have just not played the game if we had all the information and good timing. We didn’t know the whole thing.”