One of the biggest tasks for the Red Bulls come Sunday, will be finding ways to contain both Miguel Almirón and MLS leading goal scorer Josef Martinez.
Almirón and Martinez have accounted for 42 of the 65 goals that have been scored by Atlanta this season, which means limiting the touches of both these players will be key, in order to come away with a victory at Red Bull Arena, the same way the Red Bulls were able to leave Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a win in their first matchup.
"Obviously they have a few key guys and their whole front four can hurt you, they have a dangerous team," Davis said. "It’s about limiting space for those guys, limiting touches – they’re good enough to find the game at times, but I think our defense showed at their place that we have what it takes to limit them offensively. I think we have one of the best defenses in the league, so I’m really confident in those guys and in our entire team."
One thing Head Coach Chris Armas wants his squad to focus on will be stopping Atlanta United when their in transition, because as he puts it, that's when they're dangerous.
"I think it’s a big piece of how they operate – they’ve scored 21 goals or so in transition and he’s [Almirón] dangerous every time he gets the ball because he can pass, he can score, he can break down defenses with the ball, he seems faster," Armas said. "We’ll be prepared to understand where they’re best, who they’re strong with and for sure, Almirón - we’ll address how to best keep things tight with him."
The backline of the Red Bulls will be busy come Sunday afternoon, especially defenders Aaron Long and Tim Parker who will be tasked on making it tough for Almirón and Martinez to get going, which Marc Rzatkowski believes can happen, judging by their first matchup.
"For sure, we know that they both have a really good connection with each other, but I truly believe in our squad – in Aaron Long and Tim Parker – that we are good enough to control these guys, like we showed in the first leg," Rzatkowski said.
