Atlanta United Vs Nashville SC
Atlanta United Vs Nashville SC Saturday, 29th May 2021 – 20:30
US Major League Soccer
Pick: Under 2.5 Goals
Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Betfair
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 27th May 2021)
Preview: For the third time this season, Atlanta United welcome guests to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where a Nashville side making just their second road trip of 2021 arrive boasting one of only three surviving undefeated records in MLS.
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Table of Contents
Atlanta United – Five Stripes gunning for third straight home win?
For the second game running, a goal in the dying embers proved decisive for Atlanta (W2 D3 L1) who became the first visiting team in MLS this season to prevent Western Conference leaders Seattle Sounders from collecting three points at Lumen Field. Josef Martinez’s late equaliser, from the penalty spot, four minutes from time keeps them in fifth in the Eastern Conference, trailing Nashville by a point.
Martinez – a former MLS Golden Boot winner – has now moved on to two strikes for the season but boasts an incredible return of 74 in 87 appearances for The Five Stripes since switching Torino in Italy for Atlanta in Georgia, United States in 2017. The Venezuelan is still searching for his first competitive goal of 2021 here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, though, where his team retain a perfect record thus far.
That draw in Seattle may have left Atlanta winless in four on the road, however, here on their own patch Gabriel Heinze’s men have still to drop a single point following 3-1 and 1-0 successes against Chicago Fire and Montreal respectively. Meanwhile, only Eastern Conference leaders New England can claim to have breached the fourth-best defence in MLS (5 shipped in 6 games) on more than one occasion.
Nashville – Rock-solid and still unbeaten?
Another rock-solid defensive showing aided Gary Smith and his well-drilled Nashville (W2 D4 L0) side to three priceless points last time out against expansion side Austin FC. Costa Rican Randall Leal popped up with the game’s only goal for his second of the season, although as vital as his contribution was, much of the acclaim for just a second MLS victory of 2021 went to a backline keeping its fourth-straight shutout.
Nashville’s hot defensive streak is made all the more impressive given one of four clean sheets came in New England’s sole defeat so far. A hard-fought 2-0 win over the Eastern Conference pacesetters among five outings at Nissan Stadium for Gary Smith’s players, who are out on the road for only the second occasion having been held to a goalless draw by Real Salt Lake on their sole previous away outing.
Real Salt Lake were limited to no attempts on target in that aforementioned clash. A similarly miserly rearguard effort wouldn’t go amiss against Atlanta – a troublesome opponent that has netted two or more in all three prior meetings. The reality, however, will be that Nashville will likely need to score to maintain their unbeaten start, something they were unable to achieve in two of their past four matches.
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Atlanta United Vs Nashville Betting Advice
An all Eastern Conference affair sees fifth-placed Atlanta (W2 D3 L1) host unbeaten Nashville (W2 D4), the latter among three undefeated outfits in the MLS this season. Defences have been instrumental in solid, if unspectacular, starts from both teams, with the pair combining for nine goals conceded in twelve matches. Both, meanwhile, average little more than a goal per game (1.17) going forward.
Atlanta United Vs Nashville – Key Facts:
- These teams are meeting for the fourth time, having played each other on three occasions in 2020. Atlanta lead the head-to-head two wins to one, scoring two or more each time.
- Both sides have made strong starts to the season, in particular in defence. Atlanta (W2 D3 L1) conceding 0.83 on average compared to the 0.67 of Nashville (W2 D4).
- Atlanta have put up two wins from as many home matches in MLS 2021, whereas Nashville are looking for their first win and goal away from home (D1).
It would come as a surprise, therefore, were there much goal action. Under 2.5 Goals has delivered in four of six matches for both these teams this season. Nashville are bidding for a fifth consecutive clean sheet while Atlanta, a team with the highest possession statistics in MLS (57.7% on average), conceded no more than once in all but one game so far – in a 2-1 loss to Eastern Conference leaders New England.
Best Betting Odds – Atlanta United Vs Nashville
Atlanta United – 6/5 (Betfair)
Draw – 12/5 (Betfair)
Nashville – 9/4 (PaddyPower)
