Cincy Aims for Offensive Breakthrough While Atlanta Faces Major Squad Absences
Two Eastern Conference heavyweights, FC Cincinnati and Atlanta United, will meet on Saturday afternoon in Southwest Ohio, with both clubs searching for consistency after underwhelming starts to the 2025 MLS season.
FC Cincinnati Seeking Attacking Spark
FC Cincinnati (2-2-0, 6 points) have been perfect at home but winless on the road, with their attack failing to hit full stride despite major offseason signings. The club lost star playmaker Luciano Acosta but splashed big money on striker Kevin Denkey early in the transfer window and attacking midfielder Evander just before the season kicked off.
However, the high-powered offense hasn’t fully clicked, and last weekend’s 2-0 shutout loss at Charlotte FC marked the first time this season that Cincy failed to score.
“We need better runs in the box to open up different spaces, we need better crosses, more dangerous crosses,” manager Pat Noonan said, emphasizing the need for more precision in the final third.
Despite the struggles, Denkey has still found the net three times, but Cincinnati will have to make do without him this weekend, as the Togo international is away on national team duty.
That leaves Evander, who has a goal and an assist in his first season in Cincinnati, to shoulder more of the creative burden.
Atlanta United Dealing With Major International Call-Ups
Atlanta United (1-2-1, 4 points) are also seeking stability, but their biggest challenge this weekend will be squad depth, as manager Ronny Deila faces a massive selection headache with eight players called up for international duty.
Among the absences is star playmaker Miguel Almirón, who has provided assists on half of Atlanta’s four goals this season, as well as defensive midfielder Bartosz Slisz.
Despite the absences, Deila sees an opportunity for other players to step up.
“The good thing and exciting thing is that we have to use other players, and then they get the opportunity to show themselves,” Deila said. “(It’s) an opportunity now to get more players into the roster that can do a job.”
Second-Half Struggles for Atlanta
While Emmanuel Latte Lath has been a bright spot—scoring three goals in his debut MLS season, including a well-placed header against Inter Miami last weekend—Atlanta has been poor in second halves.
In their last three league matches, Atlanta has been outscored 5-2 in the second half and hasn’t scored after halftime since opening weekend. That trend cost them dearly against Miami, where they conceded an 89th-minute goal in a 2-1 loss.
What’s at Stake?
With Cincinnati aiming to maintain their strong home form and Atlanta looking to cope with major absences, Saturday’s clash presents a key early-season test for both teams. Cincinnati must find a way to create more dangerous scoring chances, while Atlanta need to overcome second-half collapses and prove their depth can withstand the international break.
Will Cincy’s revamped attack finally break loose, or can a shorthanded Atlanta squad grind out a result on the road? Saturday’s showdown could be a defining moment for both clubs’ seasons.
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