The New York Red Bulls take on Atlanta United at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, June 18. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET with coverage on MSG, MSG GO, and New York Red Bulls Radio in English and Spanish via TuneIn, the New York Red Bulls app and NewYorkRedBulls.com.
Get to know who the Red Bulls’ will be hosting in their upcoming match.
How they’re doing
With one win in its last five matches, including three games at home, Atlanta United sits in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, four points outside a playoff spot.
The team’s struggles have primarily come on the road – winning just one match and taking five losses in its seven games away from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Atlanta is coming off a 2-1 loss at BMO Field against Toronto FC on Saturday.
Despite a slow start to 2022, the Five Stripes can generate chances. The team leads the league with 171 passes that led directly to a shot and have the highest passing percentage in the league (85.4%).
Atlanta will be missing a key playmaking piece for the near future, though. Right back Brooks Lennon will be out 6-8 weeks after suffering an MCL sprain in pre-match warmups against Toronto.
Lennon is the latest in a slew of injuries for the club, who are without starting goalkeeper Brad Guzan, U.S. national team center back Miles Robinson, league veteran defensive midfielder Osvaldo Alonso, among several other absences.
Head-to-head history
The Red Bulls have never lost a regular season match against Atlanta, holding a 7-1-4 record in all competitions.
New York is unbeaten against the Five Stripes dating back to 2018, with the Red Bulls winning four times in a seven-match stretch.
Both meetings between the two sides in 2021 were scoreless draws. This is the first of two MLS regular season matchups this year between Atlanta and New York.
Player to watch – Forward Luiz Araújo
The Brazilian winger in his second year with Atlanta has bagged two goals and an assist in the last two matches for the Red Stripes. His fourth-minute goal against Inter Miami on June 19 helped Atlanta earn its first win in nearly a month and a half.
Araújo leads the team with four goals across 10 matches this year after scoring four goals in 15 appearances during his first season with the club.
The 26-year-old designated player arrived in Atlanta after four seasons with Lille, where he scored 18 goals in 136 matches across all competitions. He helped the French side capture the Ligue 1 title during his final year with the club.
