Match Preview: Atlanta United travels to DC for first of back-to-back road games

Atlanta United owns the all-time series with a record of 9-7-1 (WLD) and has won five of the previous seven meetings. The last time these two teams met was earlier this season. There has always been a high-scoring affair between these two teams, and DC United stole three points at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to win the first of three scheduled meetings this year.

Atlanta United finished their bye week looking to earn three points at home in Rob Valentino’s first game of 2024 as interim head coach. However, the Houston Dynamo had other plans and found the equalizer in the 89th minute to tie the game 2-2. At the start of the double game week, Atlanta United sits in 13th place in the Eastern Conference standings, but is only three points behind the eighth-place Philadelphia Union. Earning points on the road could give the 5-cushion a big boost. Meanwhile, DC United have had a difficult run of form since their victory at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Black and Red have remained winless since that May 11 result and most recently lost on the road to Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium.

Xande Silva (Atlanta United) – The Portuguese midfielder just scored an electric goal in Atlanta United’s 2-2 draw against Houston. Silva hit a golazo from a difficult angle that gave Atlanta United the lead for a time. It’s the second goal in as many matches for Silva after also scoring as a substitute in Atlanta’s match against Charlotte.

Christian Benteke (DC United) – DC’s player to watch is the same as the last time we profiled these two teams. Benteke scored a hat trick in the previous encounter earlier this year at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The 6ft 3in striker has been within striking distance of taking the Golden Boot lead throughout the season and enters Wednesday’s competition just three goals behind leader Cristian Arango of Real Salt Lake with 13 goals.