Atlanta United vs. Nashville SC Prediction, Preview, and Odds -8/28/21
Atlanta United versus Nashville SC
Atlanta United is undefeated in each of its last 5 matches after defeating DC United 2-1 on Saturday. Atlanta United opened the scoring with a Josef Martinez goal in the 25th minute and Marcelino Moreno scored the game-winner for Atlanta in the 82nd minute. On Saturday, Atlanta will play without Emerson Hyndman and Mo Adams, while Jake Mulraney, Franco Ibarra, Santiago Sosa and Matheus Rossetto are all questionable
Nashville battled to a 1-1 draw at home with Orlando City a week ago this past Wednesday in their most recent MLS outing. Nashville opened the scoring with a C.J. Sapong goal in the 23rd minute but allowed an equalizer early in the second half and ended up sharing spoils at home with Orlando City. Nashville is unbeaten in 11 of its last 12 MLS fixtures. Nashville is as healthy as it's been all season as the club does not have any players listed on its injury report.
Red-hot Atlanta climbing the Eastern Conference standings
Atlanta United is eighth in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 6-9-6, 27 points and a -1 goal difference. Atlanta has been red-hot winning four of its last five matches with the other ending in a draw. Over that span of success, Atlanta has scored nine goals and it's backline and goalkeeper have allowed only five. Atlanta has had two clean sheets in it's last three matches played.
Marcelina Moreno is leading Atlanta in goals scored with 7, while Josef Martinez has scored 6 and Ezequiel Barco has four. Brooks Lennon and Barco are the leaders in assists with three each, while three teammates each have two. Brad Guzan has appeared in 16 matches this season for Atlanta and has allowed 18 goals. On the season, Atlanta has scored 25 goals and allowed 26.
Nashville Piling Up Draws
Nashville is fourth in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 7-11-2, 32 points and a +12 goal difference. Nashville is piling up draws as the club has posted 11 draws this season with seven wins and just two losses. Nashville is unbeaten in 11 of its last 12 matches and over its last five has one win, three draws and one loss while scoring eight and conceding six.
C. J. Sapong is the leading goal scorer for Nashville with 9, while Hany Muhktar has scored 8 and two teammates have three goals apiece. Mukhtar is the leader in assists with 7, while Randall Leal has four. Joe Willis has appeared in each of Nashville's 20 MLS fixtures this season and has allowed just 20 goals. Nashville has scored 32 goals and allowed 20.
Pick: Atlanta United +110
Atlanta United has won four of the last five matches and took one point from the fifth with a draw at home, Atlanta has won each of the last two and this season has lost just two of eight on its home pitch. These two battled on two occasions to 2-2 draws this season and this will be another tightly contested fixture. However, Atlanta is firing on all cylinders whereas earlier this season when facing Nashville twice was going through a difficult period that resulted in the firing of its manager Gabriel Heinze yet posted a pair of draws and this time will take all three points with a victory at home.
Total: Over
In each of the last two meetings earlier this season between the two, four goals were scored in each match. The total has finished over the 2.5 goal threshold in 4 of Atlanta’s last six matches and in two of Nashville's last 3. On the season, Atlanta is scoring an average of 1.19 goals per game and Nashville is scoring an average of 1.6 goals per game.