Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami CF | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 12
Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami CF
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta
September 19 – 7:00 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: FOX Sports Southeast, CBS4 (Miami), UniMas Miami

Atlanta United are looking to snap a five-match winless streak and pick up three points against Inter Miami CF for the first time in the third meeting between the sides Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Atlanta (3W-6L-2D) are coming off back-to-back losses to expansion squads, including a 4-2 defeat at Nashville SC, the final of three consecutive road matches. Inter Miami (2W-7L-2D) had a three-match unbeaten streak snapped with a 2-1 loss at Orlando City SC.

After playing to a 0-0 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sept. 2, Lewis Morgan scored both goals for Inter Miami, leading the club to a 2-1 win on Sept. 9 in Fort Lauderdale.

Atlanta United

The struggles for Atlanta United continued Saturday, conceding inside the opening minute and three more times after Jeff Larentowicz's equalizer to fall 4-2 at Nashville SC. George Bello also scored for the Five Stripes, who have lost three of their last five games. Their last win came August 22 against Nashville.

"If you don’t do the basic things well, or if clear instructions are not followed and people decide to do what they want to do rather than what the team needs them to do, then the team finds themselves in trouble," interim coach Stephen Glass said after the game. "The reality check is that the work rate needs to stay really high. The following of instructions needs to happen. And you can’t just play for 45 minutes and expect to beat anyone. That’s the reality check. There is obviously a good number of games coming up. If we can start getting points on the board, we need to get in the playoffs. The opportunity is still there. But, there’s zero for the level tonight in my eyes."

Some help could be on the horizon. Reportedly, there's an agreement in place between Lanus and Atlanta United for the transfer of Marcelino Moreno to the MLS club as the replacement for Pity Martinez, who was recently transferred to Al-Nassr.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Josef Martinez (F) - ACL injury
- OUT: Jurgen Damm (M) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

Inter Miami CF

Inter Miami couldn't build momentum off that midweek win over Atlanta, losing to Orlando City SC for a second time this season, 2-1, at Exploria Stadium. The talk after the match centered around that 73rd-minute penalty kick that was originally awarded by referee Ismail Elfath. Orlando's Rodrigo Schlegel was called for fouling Julian Carranza in the Orlando box following Video Review, and he was also sent off for his second yellow. The call was reversed seconds later when Carranza was ruled to have been offside.

On Friday, Miami made official the long rumored signing of Gonzalo Higuain, the 32-year-old striker who most recently played for Italian champion Juventus.

“We are pleased to close a deal with Gonzalo and add an experienced and successful goalscorer, who has excelled in the world’s best teams and leagues,” said Paul McDonough, Inter Miami CF’s COO & sporting director, in a statement. “Our ownership group has always said our goal is to not only bring elite players to Inter Miami, but also good people that share our ambition and aspiration of making history in North American fútbol, and we’re confident we have found that in Gonzalo.”

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: George Acosta (M) - left knee injury
- OUT: David Norman Jr (M) - left ankle injury
- OUT: Denso Ulysse (D) - left lower leg injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Nicolas Figal (D), Andres Reyes (D)
International duty: None