Alright, Atlanta United faithful, it’s time to hit the road and bring that Five Stripes fire to Chicago! After that frustrating draw at home against Nashville, our boys are hungry for their first road W of the season! Let’s break down what needs to happen to snatch those crucial points from the Fire!
This Saturday, it’s all about getting that road monkey off our back as we face Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field. We’re sitting on 10 points, just three shy of Chicago in the Eastern Conference, and with the Fire winless in their last six and still searching for their first home victory of 2025 (four draws in five!), the opportunity is there for the taking! With a busy week ahead, starting strong with a win in Chicago is absolutely vital! Here’s the game plan, courtesy of the Tools to the Match:
Build on That Opening Blitz!
Remember that first 30 minutes against Nashville? Pure Atlanta intensity! We were all over them, suffocating their space and deservedly grabbing that opening goal thanks to the magic of Miguel Almirón! We need to bottle that energy, that relentless pressure, and unleash it for longer stretches against Chicago. No more fading after scoring or conceding! If we bring that front-foot, high-pressure game, those scoring chances will come. Fun fact for you stat nerds: Chicago has coughed up the second-most clear-cut chances in the league so far! Let’s make them pay!
Keep Eyes Locked on Cuypers!
Don’t let Chicago’s recent struggles fool you; they still have danger up top in the form of Belgian striker Hugo Cuypers! The man’s on fire with seven goals and two assists already this season, and he’s clicking well with Danish winger Philip Zinckernagel. Our defense needs to be laser-focused on Cuypers’ movement in and around our box. Cut off those crosses from the wings, force them to try and break us down through the middle, and we’ll be in a much better position to secure a result.
Unleash the Transition Speed!
On the road in MLS, you’ve got to be smart. We need to be defensively solid, no doubt, but when those transition opportunities arise, we HAVE to make them count! Crisp, quick passing through the midfield to unlock their defense is key. And then? Unleash the speed merchants! Almirón and Latte Lath, it’s your time to shine! Their pace can absolutely terrorize Chicago’s backline. An early goal on the counter? That could be the recipe for a massive road victory!
How to Watch the Black and Red Attack!
Get your scarves ready, Atlanta! You can catch all the action live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV this Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. ET from Soldier Field! For the radio listeners out there, tune into Sports Radio 92.9 The Game (English) or La Mejor – AM 1600 (Spanish).
Let’s rally behind our team, even from afar! It’s time to grab those road points, Atlanta!
VAMOS ATLANTA! LET’S BRING HOME THE WIN!
