It could be a season-defining duel between the two teams, Philadelphia Union And Atlanta United compete in the MLS on Saturday at Subaru Park.

With only four games left in the regular season, both teams are currently separated by just three points in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference standings as they look to secure a spot in the playoffs.

Game preview

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Philadelphia Union kept their hopes of postseason football alive last Sunday when they defeated DC United 4-0 when the two teams faced off at Subaru Park.

Hungarian striker Daniel Gazdag delivered an eye-catching individual performance as he scored on either side of half-time Mikael watch And Tai Baribo He also got on the scoresheet and handed DC United their 13th league defeat of the season.

Philadelphia Union now has three wins from its four games in September after failing to record a win in its previous four games prior to this run, including a penalty shootout loss to the Colorado Rapids in the third-place League Cup playoff on August 25.

With 36 points from 30 games, Jim CurtinThe Montreal men currently sit ninth in the Eastern Conference standings, two points above 10th-place Montreal just outside of the coveted play-in spots and three above Saturday’s 13th-place visitors.

Philadelphia Union will be hoping for three straight wins in MLS this weekend for the first time since April, as they face an opposition team that has failed to win in its last five visits to Subaru Park, losing four and drawing one since a 2-0 win in July 2018.

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On the other hand, Atlanta United dropped two more points last Sunday when they played to a 2-2 draw against the New York Red Bulls after conceding a 97th-minute equalizer at the Red Bull Arena.

After Dante Vanzeir And Aleksei Miranchuk scored an equalizer for both sides at the end of the first half, Edwin Mosquera but gave the guests the lead with a goal in the 92nd minute Elias Manoel scored a goal in the seventh minute of added time and secured a share of the spoils.

Atlanta United have now failed to win six of their last seven games, drawing two and losing four, including back-to-back defeats to DC United and Santos Laguna in the Leagues Cup, where they finished bottom of Group K.

This poor form has seen the 2018 champions fall out of the playoff qualification spots due to putting Rob ValentinoBarely three months after his appointment as interim coach, David’s future at the helm of the business is up in the air.

While Atlanta United are aiming to end this poor streak, their recent away results provide little cause for optimism as they remain winless in six of their last seven away games – losing four and drawing two – and a 1-0 win at Charlotte FC import September 1st is the exception.

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Team news

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Philadelphia Union remains without the services of the 21-year-old full-back Isaiah LeFlorewho still has to take a long break due to a serious knee injury.

In addition to him, the Jamaican goalkeeper is also on the club’s injury list Andrew Blakewho is out after suffering groin problems in last weekend’s win over DC United.

In his absence, 18 year old Andrew Rick should start between the posts on Saturday, with Nathan Harris, Jacob Glesnes, Jackson Elliot And Kai Wagner He formed the back four for the second time in a row.

With his brace against DC United, Gazdag now has 17 league goals, just two of them Christian Benteke at the top of the goalscoring charts and the 28-year-old will be one to watch this weekend.

As for Atlanta United, the duo of Ronald Hernandez and Portuguese striker Xande Silva will not play a role in Saturday’s game as they are currently recovering from ankle and foot injuries respectively.

Experienced goalkeeper Quentin Westberg has been out since the beginning of August due to a head injury and the 38-year-old is no longer an option for this weekend’s guests.

Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Rick; Harriel, Glesnes, Elliot, Wagner; Flat, Bedoya, McGlynn; Gazdag, Baribo, clock

Possible Atlanta United starting lineup:
Guzan; Lennon, Cobb, Williams, Gregersen, Amador; Fortune, Miranchuk, Slisz; Lobzhanidze, Thiare

We say: Philadelphia Union 2:1 Atlanta United

With just three points separating Atlanta United and Philadelphia Union in the coveted ninth place, we expect an exciting battle at Subaru Park as both teams look to best each other.

However, Philadelphia’s home advantage gives them a slight advantage and we expect them to prevail against the Five Stripes, who have failed to win six of their last seven road games.

For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this game, please click here.

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