Who: Philadelphia Union (2nd place, 26 points, record 8-3-2) vs. Atlanta United (13th place, 11 points, 2-6-5)
What: 2025 regular season game
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
When: Saturday, May 17th, 7:30 PM
Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+, Listen in on 97.5 FM
Whistle: Ref: Chris Penso, AR1: Kali Smith, AR2: Brian Marshall, 4th: Matthew Corrigan, VAR: Younes Marrakchi, AVAR: Joshua Patlak

Photo courtesy Philadelphia Union Communications

On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Union extended their unbeaten streak to six games in all competitions with a come-from-behind win over the LA Galaxy. Now the Union head south to take on struggling Atlanta United.

Scouting Report: Atlanta United

When Atlanta United visited Subaru Park four weeks ago, the Five Stripes stubbornly insisted on playing out of the back and into the teeth of the Union’s press. It did not work out well for Atlanta, who consistently gave the ball away in dangerous positions en route to a 3-0 loss. Atlanta are winless since that game, and have scored just three goals over their last six matches, adding misery to an already difficult season.

Atlanta sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference despite having one of the largest roster spends in MLS history this offseason. Atlanta spent more than $40 million over the past few transfer windows, revamping their offense with signings like Miguel Almiron and Emmanuel Latte Lath – on whom they spent a league record $22 million transfer fee this February. (For comparison, the Union set their club-record transfer fee this offseason with the $3.4 million purchase of Bruno Damiani.) And yet it is the Union who are one of the best teams in the league this year, while Atlanta struggle. It is one of the weird quirks of MLS that the highest-spending teams in any particular year often end up at the bottom of the league.

• Player Availability: Stian Gregersen – Quadriceps (Out)

Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union

The Philadelphia Union are in the midst of a grueling stretch of the season. This will be the Union’s fifth game in fifteen days, with yet another midweek match coming up against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Wednesday. And the last three games have been particularly exhausting, featuring extra-time and penalties against the Indy Eleven, a stoppage time draw against Columbus and a stoppage time win over the Galaxy. Bradley Carnell went with the same starting XI against both Columbus and LA, so I would expect some rotation against Atlanta.

• Player Availability: Ian Glavinovich – Knee (Out), Neil Pierre – Knee (Out), Andre Blake – Knee (Questionable)

Key Matchup: Kai Wagner vs. Miguel Almiron

Wagner has been the best left-back in the league this year, and did well to shut down Almiron in the Union’s victory four weeks ago. Almiron has yet to regain his MVP candidate form from 2017-18, but he is still one of Atlanta’s most dangerous players, with three goals and three assists on the season.

Player to Watch: Frankie Westfield

As if the Homegrown’s breakout season couldn’t get any more impressive, Westfield has been growing more impactful going forward over the past few games, including with his rocket of a goal against Columbus last weekend.

Prediction: 1-0 Philadelphia

I’m expecting some rotation in this one, which may make things tricky away from home. But the Union still should have it in them to triumph over this floundering Atlanta side.