ATLANTA — With playoff hopes hanging in the balance, Atlanta United head coach Ronny Deila is turning to fresh legs and defensive reinforcements for Saturday’s crucial rivalry clash against Charlotte FC. Four changes have been made to the starting lineup from Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Chicago Fire, signaling both urgency and tactical adjustment from the 5-Stripes’ head coach.
“We have to start winning if you’re going to talk about playoffs, that’s for sure,” Deila said after Wednesday’s match. “So we need to work with our performances.”
Defensive Overhaul
The most noticeable changes are at the back, where three of the four defenders have been rotated.
- Derrick Williams returns from a foot injury and will start at center back for the first time since June 12.
- Ronald Hernández reclaims the right back role for his first start since mid-June.
- Matt Edwards also returns to the starting XI for the first time in nearly a month.
- Efraín Morales is the only holdover from Wednesday’s backline.
Midfield Consistency
The midfield trio remains unchanged, with Tristan Muyumba, Bartosz Slisz, and Alexey Miranchuk continuing to anchor the center of the pitch. Miranchuk scored a long-range beauty against Chicago, assisted by a strong midfield buildup featuring Slisz—who will also make his 50th start for the club tonight.
Attacking Adjustment: Brennan Gets His Shot
Up top, Miguel Almirón will captain the side again and partner with Emmanuel Latte Lath. Joining them is Luke Brennan, making his first career MLS start. A product of Atlanta United’s inaugural academy class, Brennan has impressed with three consecutive substitute appearances and now gets his biggest chance yet to shine at home.
Starting XI vs. Charlotte FC:
Brad Guzan, Ronald Hernández, Efraín Morales, Derrick Williams, Matt Edwards, Bartosz Slisz, Tristan Muyumba, Alexey Miranchuk, Miguel Almirón (C), Emmanuel Latte Lath, Luke Brennan
Reserves: Jayden Hibbert, Luis Abram, Brooks Lennon, Pedro Amador, Mateusz Klich, Will Reilly, Saba Lobjanidze, Jamal Thiaré, Cayman Togashi
Roster Highlights:
- Brad Guzan is set to make his 300th career MLS regular season appearance, a major milestone for the veteran keeper.
- Derrick Williams returns to action for his 15th appearance of the season after recovering from a foot injury.
- Luke Brennan, a club homegrown and academy graduate, makes his first career MLS start.
- Bartosz Slisz reaches a club milestone with his 50th start, becoming just the 28th player in Atlanta United history to do so.
- The team ranks 5th in MLS in distance covered per match this season, averaging 72.3 miles per game—a testament to the high-energy style Deila has emphasized.
With Charlotte FC holding the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, tonight’s match is a must-win for Atlanta United. Full capacity is expected at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the 17s are ready to back their squad in a rivalry clash with everything on the line. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
