News Summary
Atlanta United, with a record of 2-5-4, is set to face the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field. Both teams are struggling, aiming to end their winless streaks. Atlanta has struggled on the road, and Chicago has faced issues at home. With low scoring records and defensive vulnerabilities, this match holds significant implications for both teams as they seek to turn their seasons around.
Atlanta – Atlanta United, currently with a record of 2 wins, 5 losses, and 4 draws, is set to face the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. This match is considered crucial for both teams, as Atlanta seeks to end its winless streak and Chicago attempts to rectify its own struggles at home.
Atlanta United has struggled significantly on the road this season, holding a dismal record of 0-3-1. Their performance in away matches has contributed to their current standing in the league. In contrast, the Chicago Fire has similarly faced difficulties at home, with a record of 0-1-4 thus far this season. Both teams have faced challenges in terms of scoring, as Atlanta has managed only 12 goals this season, including two own goals, while Chicago has scored 18 goals, led by Hugo Cuypers with seven.
Despite a recent highlight, where Atlanta ended a franchise-record 363-minute scoreless streak against Nashville thanks to a goal from Miguel Almiron, the team’s overall performance in the attacking front remains concerning. Emmanuel Latte Lath is Atlanta’s leading scorer with five goals this season; however, Atlanta United has failed to surpass 1.0 expected goals in each of its last three matches and in four of its 11 matches this season. Their expected goals total stands at 14.4, which is significantly behind San Jose’s 25.1 but slightly better than Chicago’s 17.5.
Defensively, Atlanta United has allowed a total of 20 goals this season, tying them for the third most in Major League Soccer (MLS). Chicago is not far behind, having conceded 22 goals, which puts them just behind D.C. United. Atlanta’s expected goals allowed is at 16.4, indicative of additional defensive vulnerabilities. During their current five-match winless streak, Atlanta has permitted 10 goals, which raises concerns about their defensive organization.
The team’s goal difference currently stands at minus-8, which contrasts with an expected goal difference that could realistically be minus-2, illustrating an underperformance in converting scoring opportunities versus goals allowed. Atlanta has completed 107 key passes this season, only trailing San Jose, which has 136, but their overall efficiency in converting chances has decreased recently, resulting in a ratio of key passes to goals that has dropped from 6:1 to 11:1.
On a more technical level, Atlanta has taken 135 shots, scoring on one out of every 13.5 attempts. Meanwhile, Chicago has a higher scoring efficiency, netting a goal from one out of every 7.3 shots. In terms of shots on goal, Atlanta has recorded 41, experiencing a decrease in their shot-on-goal percentage to 30%, which ranks them among the lower performers in this category. In comparison, Chicago boasts a higher shot-on-goal percentage at 42%.
Moreover, Atlanta’s defense has allowed opponents a shot on target 44.5% of the time, placing them second to last in the league. While their passing statistics show promise with 477 progressive passes—ranking them seventh in MLS—Atlanta has only attempted five through balls this season, the fewest in the league. As they prepare for their match against Chicago, improvement in both attacking and defensive strategies will be critical for Atlanta United to regain their footing in the season and avoid further dissatisfying results.
This match against the Chicago Fire presents an opportunity for Atlanta United to not only break their own struggles but also to capitalize on a rival that is also seeking to turn their season around. With both teams under pressure, the contest is expected to be closely contested with significant implications for their respective standings in the league.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Governor Kemp Declines U.S. Senate Run for 2026 Election
Atlanta United and Nashville SC End in 1-1 Draw
Atlanta Falcons and United Announce Grand Opening of New Team Store
Marist School to Compete Against Eastside High School in Soccer Match
Atlanta United Academy Teams Shine at Generation adidas Cup
Community Unites to Search for Missing Woman in Atlanta
Supporters Rally for Accused Murderer Luigi Mangione
Atlanta Ranks Fifth Among U.S. State Capitals for Quality of Life
Department of Justice Dismisses Corruption Case Against Mayor Adams
Lockdown at Atlanta Schools Raises Safety Concerns
Additional Resources
- AJC: Soccer Stats Previewing Atlanta United at Chicago
- Austin FC: Unified Team Match Against Atlanta United
- MLS Soccer: St. Louis City Acquire Xande Silva from Atlanta United
- Wikipedia: Atlanta United FC
- Google Search: Atlanta United news
