Union prioritize Champions League over MLS games for first visit to Atlanta since 2019 playoffs

For as well as the Union have played so far this year, the scoreboard shows that they’ve come away with zero wins against their two toughest opponents, Columbus and Miami.

Now comes Atlanta United, an opponent that has been a benchmark to measure the Union against ever since the Five Stripes strode into MLS four years ago. In that short span, Atlanta has already won an MLS Cup and a U.S. Open Cup, a bigger trophy haul than the Union’s in 11 seasons. And the team has drawn record-breaking crowds to a stadium in a downtown location the likes of which Union cans can only dream of.

“I like playing against Atlanta because they’re a high-quality opponent. You get to learn a lot about your team,” Union manager Jim Curtin said. “I won’t say that I love coming down here and playing in front of the big crowd and how difficult they make it with their fans on you. But these are fun games.”

» READ MORE: Union fall to Gonzalo Higuaín and Inter Miami, 2-1, after leading late

The Union might not get the full-decibel experience Tuesday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (8 p.m., FS1 and TUDN) in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal series, with crowds restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Curtin’s team will encounter a star-studded team that’s starting to find its rhythm under new manager Gabriel Heinze.

That’s especially true of playmaker Ezequiel Barco. The 22-year-old had an excellent game in Saturday’s 3-1 win over the Chicago Fire, creating two chances and scoring a thunderbolt of a goal.

Barco is surrounded by terrific young central midfielder Santiago Sosa, veteran Mexican winger Jürgen Damm, and megawatt striker Josef Martínez, who has scored 90 goals in 107 games for Atlanta. Martínez will come into Tuesday’s game at full strength, having only been a late-game substitute Saturday.

Just as notable as Atlanta’s attack has been its defense, which has allowed just one goal in four games this year. The unit is marshaled by Sosa and three very good young Americans: right back Brooks Lennon (who will be rested for this game), centerback Miles Robinson, and left back George Bello.

Curtin gave Sosa high praise, calling the 21-year-old “very impressive in his ability to control the tempo of the game, to take away the opponent’s top player. … I think he’s going to be one of the best signings in our league in [this] offseason.”

Sosa might spend a lot of time Tuesday marking another 21-year-old, the Union’s Anthony Fontana. Curtin wouldn’t reveal anything about his likely starting lineup, but his decision to not start Fontana against Miami was a clear signal of saving the player for this game.

You definitely will not see Ilsinho, whom Curtin confirmed has a groin injury and did not travel. Curtin said the Brazilian “will be missing some more time,” and you can infer that he’ll be out for a while.

» READ MORE: Jim Curtin lost a gamble with his lineup in the Union’s loss to Miami

Because of how the pandemic upended things last year, this will be the first Union-Atlanta matchup since the 2019 playoffs. Both teams are very different from what they were then. The Union’s lineup in that game included Haris Medunjanin, Marco Fabián, and Fafa Picault.

But what has not changed is the Union’s desire to beat Atlanta and prove they can run with American soccer’s standard-setters.

“We’ll put everything we have into the game,” Curtin said. “The league gets put on hold right now because Champions League is the priority.”