Competition: MLS regular season Date: Sunday 3rd March 2019 Venue: Audi Field Kick-Off: 23:00 GMT
Match Preview
A new season of MLS action begins this weekend and defending champions Atlanta United kickstart the new campaign with a trip to the capital to face Eastern Conference rivals D.C. United in a game full of attacking flair.
England’s all-time leading scorer Wayne Rooney is preparing for his first full campaign in MLS, having hit 12 goals and contributed six assists last season, but leading the Washington-based outfit to glory this term will be a stern task, despite support from Luciano Acosta.
Atlanta, meanwhile, stormed to glory last season and are tipped amongst the favourites to go all the way this season, although the New York Red Bulls will give them a run for their money. With Josef Martinez, the favourite to be named the season’s MVP, leading the line, the visitors have a formidable attack and should secure a positive result this weekend.
One To Watch: Pity Martinez (Atlanta United)
Miguel Almiron‘s move across the Atlantic to Newcastle United in the Premier League opened the door for Atlanta to sign a new designated player and, true to their routes, they splashed out to secure an exciting talent from South America.
Signed from River Plate for a reported fee of just under £12m, the 25-year-old is the most expensive recruit in MLS history and three of the players in the list of the top-four most expensive were purchased by Atlanta.
With three goals and two assists for River Plate in their Copa Libertadores success in 2018, Pity is more than capable of filling the void left by Almiron’s departure.
History & Stats
- The three MLS meetings between the two sides so far have all finished 3-1 to the home side.
- This is only the second meeting between D.C. United and Atlanta in Washington.
- A Wayne Rooney penalty and a brace from Luciano Acosta secured victory for D.C. United in the last meeting in September 2018.