Our prediction for this MLS match:
Geodis Park will host Saturday’s MLS game between Nashville and Atlanta United, the two teams who sit in the playoffs berth. Gary Smith’s troops aim to put an end to their three-game winless run and they are seen as slim favourites to beat the Five Stripes on home soil. Both Randall Leal and Nick DePuy are out of contention with injuries, but there are no suspended players in the home team. A man to watch in the home team will be Hany Mukhtar, who scored his third goal of the season in a 1-1 draw with Los Angeles FC.
Atlanta United, on the other hand, aim to build on a 2-1 win over Chicago Fire, but given their ups and downs on the road, we do not believe that the visitors are capable of grabbing more than one point from the match. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso should be the only absentees in the away team.
Highlighted Player (Anibal Godoy):
Anibal Godoy is a professional footballer who plays for Panama national football team. The powerful midfielder was born on February 10, 1990 and he has been playing for los Ticos since March 4, 2010 when he made his debut for the national team.
Anibal Godoy played full 90 minutes in the 2-1 win over Venezuela and he scored his first goal for Panama four years late in a 3-1 victory over El Salvador. Speaking of his club career, Godoy played for Chepo of Panama from 2007 to 2010 and he moved to Europe in the summer of 2013, signing a deal with Hungarian outfit Honved.
After playing 24 league games (one goal) for Honved, Godoy signed for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes in August 2015. Anibal Godoy is a defensive midfielder and his preferred foot is left. His contract with San Jose should expire in December, 2017 and it has to be noted that he began his youth career Arsenal de Sarandi of Argentina.
Highlighted Team (Atlanta United):
Atlanta United is a Major League Soccer club and they were founded on April 16, 2014. They are based in Atlanta, Georgia and they will make their debut in MLS in 2017. Arthur Blank is the club’s owner and Bobby Dodd Stadium is Atlanta United’s home ground.
Arthur Blank is an American businessman, who is well known for his ownership of the NFL club Atlanta Falcons. The venue was opened on September 27, 1913 and its’ current capacity is 60.316. However, it has to be noted that the team will play first eight home games of the 2017 season at Bobby Dodd Stadium, while the latter nine fixtures will be hosted by Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Speaking of the club’s colors, Atlanta United footballers wear black and red shirts and black shorts with a little bit of gold mixed in. Gerardo Martino, who used to be in charge of La Liga side Barcelona in the past, will coach Atlanta United in the 2017 MLS season. Tata Martino won the Spanish Super Cup with Barca, while making it to the Copa America final with Argentina on two occasions (2015, 2016).