Related items

• Atlanta United v Minnesota United: Five Stripes not concerned by winless run

  Atlanta United are not concerned by their winless run in MLS, so says Caleb Wiley.

  The Five Stripes have not won in four MLS games, ahead of a home meeting with Minnesota United on Saturday.

  Wiley, however, believes Atlanta’s attacking play has been such that it is only a matter of time until results start turning.

  “It will come,” said Wiley. “We are creating so many chances. I know it is frustrating, but the goals will come. We are not worried because we have the talent to do that [score goals].

  “We know that it is still early in the season. We still have a lot more games to go. We have so much more to learn. That is what we are all excited about; that is what I am excited about for this team. We have so much more to do, and to show everybody.”

  Looking ahead to this weekend’s fixture, Atlanta coach Gonzalo Pineda said: “We have watched all the games.

  “We have prepared tactically for whatever lineup or structure they present. So, it is about our principles and how we play. How we can balance their backline, and how we can create enough chances for our attacking players to be near the goal line.”

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Atlanta United – Thiago Almada

  Almada has 11 goals and 13 assists in regular-season home matches since the start of last season, one of two players (Luciano Acosta) with at least 10 goals and 10 assists in home matches in that time.

  Minnesota United – Robin Lod

  Lod has recorded an assist in four straight matches, equalling Darwin Quintero (2018—19) for the longest regular-season streak in Minnesota United’s history. He is the first Loons’ player to do so within a single season.

  MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA UNITED WIN

  Atlanta’s eight-match home unbeaten run in all competitions (W6 D2) ended with a 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati on April 20. Atlanta have lost consecutive home matches in all competitions in nearly three years, since losing to New England and Columbus in July 2021.

  The Five Stripes have won four of five all-time meetings with Minnesota (L1). The Loons’ lone victory was a 3—2 win at Atlanta in October 2017.

  However, Minnesota are off to the best start in club history with 17 points from their first nine matches of the season. The Loons have won three of their four road matches (L1) after winning only three of their final 14 regular-season away matches in 2023 (D2 L9).

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Atlanta United – 47.7%

  Minnesota United – 25.2%

  Draw – 27.1%

• D.C. United v Philadelphia Union: Gazdag eyes response after landmark goal overshadowed

  Daniel Gazdag says the Philadelphia Union must "run through walls" against D.C. United on Saturday, after he saw a personal milestone overshadowed by back-to-back defeats for Jim Curtin's team.

  Gazdag became Philadelphia's all-time leading scorer on Tuesday, netting his 57th goal for the club against the Seattle Sounders at Subaru Park. 

  However, that goal wasn't enough to prevent the Union from sliding to a 3-2 loss, just three days after they suffered their first MLS defeat of 2024 against Real Salt Lake.

  While Gazdag was pleased to seal his place in franchise history, he was frustrated it didn't count for more and wants to make amends this weekend. 

  "It's obviously a nice number. I'm happy that I've become the all-time leading goalscorer for the club. That's amazing," Gazdag said. 

  "When I got here three years ago, I wouldn't have dreamed about it. I'm happy with that, I'll be happy in the future, for sure, but it's just annoying we played like that.

  "After two games like this, we have to go out there and just run through walls to win the next game, it doesn't matter who we're up against."

  Philadelphia sit seventh in the Eastern Conference with 13 points from nine games, an identical tally to that accumulated by D.C. through 10 matches.

  Troy Lesesne's men beat Seattle 2-1 last Saturday to halt a three-match winless run, but he says they are yet to produce a complete performance since he took charge. 

  "With the ball, what we want to do is keep the tempo high," Lesesne said.

  "We want to see out a complete performance, which is still something we're going after, and hopefully against Philadelphia we can have another go at that."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  D.C. United – Christian Benteke

  Benteke scored both of D.C.'s goals against Seattle last week, moving to eight goals in MLS this season. Only Lionel Messi, with nine, has outscored the former Liverpool man.

  The Belgian has also netted 12 of his team's last 21 MLS goals in a run dating back to late September (0.57 per cent).  

  Philadelphia Union – Julian Carranza 

  Carranza scored two hat-tricks against D.C. United in the 2022 season. 

  The Argentine, who has four goals in MLS this term, is looking to break new ground on Saturday – no player in MLS history has scored three hat-tricks against a single opponent before.

  MATCH PREDICTION – PHILADELPHIA UNION WIN

  The Union have won six of their last eight regular-season away matches against D.C. (one draw, one defeat), scoring 24 goals in those matches including nine in the last two. 

  They are favourites to preserve their strong record at Audi Field, having gone unbeaten through their first five road games of an MLS season (two wins, three draws) for the second time (also in 2021).

  Since 2015, only the 2022 New York Red Bulls have opened a season with a six-game unbeaten run on the road. Philadelphia have what it takes to replicate that feat, with D.C. not winning consecutive matches within a single season since April 2023. 

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  D.C. United – 29.2% 

  Philadelphia Union – 42.4%

  Draw – 28.4% 

• Europa Conference League: Aston Villa stunned by Olympiacos

  Aston Villa were stunned by Olympiacos as they suffered a 4-2 home defeat in the Europa Conference League.

  On what the Villa faithful hoped would be a famous night at Villa Park, they instead saw their team dispatched by their Greek opponents in the first leg of their semi-final encounter.

  Ayoub El Kaabi scored a hat-trick for the visitors, who were 2-0 up inside 30 minutes on Thursday.

  Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby struck either side of the interval to restore parity, but El Kaabi sealed his hat-trick from the penalty spot before Santiago Hezze added further gloss with a sensational finish. To add to Villa's misery, Douglas Luiz then missed a penalty late on.

  In the other semi-final tie, Fiorentina took a 3-2 aggregate lead against Club Brugge.

  M'Bala Nzola was Fiorentina's hero in stoppage time, scoring in the 91st minute to nudge the Serie A team ahead.

  Hans Vanaken had scored from a penalty following a VAR check for handball in the 17th minute, cancelling out Riccardo Sottil's early opener, though Fiorentina restored their lead through Andrea Belotti before half-time in a frantic first half.

  Thiago equalised for Brugge, but it was ultimately not enough.