New York City vs Atlanta United

Playoff-bidding Atlanta United head to the Yankee Stadium to take on out-of-form New York City in a handsomely-looking Major League Soccer encounter.

New York City have surrendered the top place in the Eastern Conference to Montreal after going winless in their last three MLS fixtures (D2, L1), including an enthralling 4-4 draw with Cincinnati last time out. However, the ‘Pigeons’ have been nothing short of impressive at home this season, suffering just one defeat in nine league matches (W6, D2). Unbeaten in their last seven home league games on the trot (W5, D2), Nick Cushing’s men will feel confident about extending their three-game winning H2H streak in this fixture. It’s also worth noting that they’ve kept a clean sheet in both previous league H2Hs at this venue.

In the meantime, a run of identical 2-1 defeats to Toronto and New York Red Bulls have seen Atlanta United lose further ground on the Eastern Conference playoff spots. Sitting five points adrift of the seventh-placed New England Revolution, the visitors are desperate to improve an abysmal six-game MLS form (W1, D2, L3). That could be easier said than done, though. The ‘Five Stripes’ have lost five of their last six league matches on hostile turf (D1), with four of those defeats yielding the same 2-1 scoreline. Conceding first could lead to another disappointing result, as Atlanta have lost four out of five away league games in which they conceded first this term (D1).