By Justin Ruderman
There may be no knockout implications left, but Wednesday night’s clash between Atlanta United and Atlas still promises plenty of emotion and pride.
HEAD TO HEAD
- 1st ever meeting
- Record at Leagues Cup: Atlas (3-5), Atlanta United (0-6)
LAST FIVE GAMES
- Atlas
- 1 Win, 1 Draw, 3 Losses
- Eliminated from contention following losses to Inter Miami and Orlando City.
- Atlanta United
- 0 Wins, 2 Draws, 3 Losses
- Eliminated from contention following losses to Necaxa and Pumas UNAM.
MAIN STORYLINES
- With each side unable to reach the knockouts, could the managers use their final Phase One matches as an opportunity for unheralded players to make a name for themselves?
- Atlas head coach Gonzalo Pineda is back in Atlanta to take on the club he managed in over 100 matches from 2021-2024.
- Atlas enters the game on a 3-game losing streak, haven't lost 4 straight since October 2020.
- Despite spending nearly $50 million over the past year, the Five Stripes have suffered a disappointing MLS season in their first year under former MLS Cup-winning manager Ronny Deila.
- Atlanta is looking for their first win since May 28, currently on a 10-game winless streak.
KEY FACTORS
- Atlas
- Striker Uros Djurdjevic was the joint-third top scorer in LIGA MX last season with 12 goals. The former Montenegro international would love to bag his first in Leagues Cup.
- 21-year-old winger Diego González has 1g/2a in his first three LIGA MX games of the season. Can the on-loan Paraguayan youth international translate his play to Leagues Cup in La Academia’s final Phase One match?
- Colombian international goalkeeper Camilo Vargas and offseason acquisition Rober are back from early-season injuries and ready to make their impact as Atlas continue to focus on improving defensively.
- Atlanta
- For a team that has really struggled on offense, who outside of Emmanuel Latte Lathe and Aleksei Miranchauk can step up? Latte Lathe and Miranchauk have scored six of the teams nine goals over their last 10 games.
- Atlanta United legend Miguel Almirón had an assist in three straight games heading into Leagues Cup in his first season back in MLS. The Paraguayan international won’t want to depart Leagues Cup without a goal contribution.
- Atlanta is joint-bottom of MLS with just two clean sheets all season and have given up three goals in both Leagues Cup matches. The Five Stripes must find a way to shut off their leaky faucet.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Both teams enter their final Phase One match eliminated from Leagues Cup 2025 contention after two straight losses. But this matchup carries a deeper, more personal storyline: the return of Gonzalo Pineda to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Pineda, now managing Atlas, spent nearly three years as head coach of the Five Stripes, overseeing more than 100 matches between August 2021 and June 2024. Wednesday marks his first game back in Atlanta since departing the club.
“It’s special. More than the building, it’s the people—you make connections, relationships,” Pineda said. “It’s always a good moment to reconnect, to say hi to friends. That’s very special.”
Still, the Mexican manager emphasized his focus remains on the task at hand.
“Other than that, it’s just the players. It’s just my team playing Atlanta United, and that’s it. I’m very focused on my team now, but of course, seeing people I haven’t seen in a year is always special.”
Both Atlanta and Atlas are looking for their first point of the tournament, and someone will leave Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a better taste in their mouth. Whether it’s Pineda showing Atlanta what they’re missing, or the Five Stripes spoiling their former coach’s return, expect intensity and emotion when the whistle blows.
