Atlanta United vs. Cincinnati Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 9/14/21
Cincinnati had not won in 12 matches until their last match where they beat a Toronto team that is in the basement of the Eastern Conference. Cincy is in second to last place in the conference and they have had issues on both ends of the pitch.
Atlanta is in solid form, as they have won five of their last six matches. With their solid streak they have moved up in the table in the East and are now in the eighth position and have a legit shot at the playoffs.
These teams met on July 22, in Cincinnati and played to a 1-1 draw.
Not Like the Stats
Cincy has given up the second-most goals and scored the fewest in the East but in their last match were unlike their season stats in a 2-0 home win over Toronto FC. The time of possession in the match was even and Cincinnati got the win despite being outshot (13-10) and having fewer shots on target (5-4). Brenner and Haris Medunjanin each found the back of the net in a match, which was only their second clean sheet win of the season.
Brenner leads the team in goals and has scored two in his last four matches. Luciano Acosta and Álvaro Barreal have combined for seven goals with no other player scoring more than two and Acosta lead the club with six assists. The win over Toronto was only their second match in their last 10 where they scored more than one goal. DF Zico Bailey and FW Joseph-Claude Gyau are both listed as questionable for this match. On the season Cincy has three road wins but none since late June.
The Right Side of a Clean Sheet
After getting shutout in a loss to Nashville Atlanta rebounded in their last match with a clean sheet of their own being Orlando City 3-0. George Campbell got the scoring started in the 25th minute, Daryl Dike was credited on an own goal, and Ezequiel Barco also found the back of the net. Atlanta won the time of possession battle 55% to 45% and had 10 more shots (18-10) and had five shots on goal only allowing two. Not only does Atlanta have seven wins and seven losses, with nine draws, on the season but have a goal differential of 0 scoring 28 goals and conceding 28. However, in their last five matches, where they have four wins, they have scored 10 goals and conceded five.
Marcelino Moreno leads the club with seven goals, Josef Martínez and Ezequiel Barco have combined for 11 goals, and Brooks Lennon has four assists to lead the team. Atlanta has some injury issues, as the MF duo of Santiago Sosa and Mo Adams are both out for this match and the MFs of Jake Mulraney and Franco Ibarra are both listed as questionable.
Pick: Atlanta United FC -185
Cincinnati got a clean sheet win in their last match, but it came at home facing Toronto FC, who has the fewest points in MLS. Both of Cincy’s clean sheet wins have come against Toronto this season and the club has given up the second-most goals in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta has won four of their last five matches and also had a clean sheet in their last one. While these teams played a 1-1 draw earlier this season in Cincinnati there will be a winner in this match and that winner will be Atlanta. Even with injury issues in the midfield they will play well on defense and I look for them to score at least two goals. They will get the win and continue their playoff push.
Total: Under
Cincinnati has played pretty good defense in their last few road matches, which is why I am taking the Under in this match. That was the winning pick in the earlier season matchup between these teams and that is the pick in this one even though Atlanta scored three goals in their last match. I think they will be pretty good on the attack and score more than one goal but they will shine on the defensive side of the pitch. They scored a clean sheet in their last match and think they will do so in this one, which is the main reason the Under is the pick.