Atlanta United Fc Atl vs Toronto Fc Tfc Picks and Predictions June 29th 2024

Atlanta United Try to End Home Slump Against Toronto FC

Atlanta United have made some progress under interim coach Rob Valentino, going unbeaten with a 1-0-2 record in his three matches in charge. The Five Stripes (5-8-6, 21 points) will look to continue that form when they host Toronto FC (7-10-3, 24 points) on Saturday night.

Atlanta United’s Recent Form

Interim Coach Impact

Atlanta United have shown improvement since Valentino took over. In his debut on June 15, Atlanta conceded an 89th-minute goal to draw 2-2 with Houston at home. They then secured a 1-0 win at D.C. United before a 1-1 tie at St. Louis City last weekend.

“It was a good couple results in terms of points at difficult places, difficult conditions to go into, and to find a way to get three points and then battle back and get a draw,” goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. “Now we need to up it even more and make sure it comes out that we are able to get three points.”

Home Struggles

Despite the positive changes, Atlanta has been winless in seven home matches (0-5-2) since a 3-0 victory against Chicago on March 31.

“I mean, it’s a bit of a mentality thing, like when we go on the road, we know it’s going to be a fight, it’s going to be the other team might have the ball at times,” defender Noah Cobb said. “And I think at home, like, we always want to dominate, dominate, dominate. At times, if there’s a spell in the game where the other team has the ball, we might get a little discouraged. I think it’s just applying that same mentality that we have on the road to the home games.”

Join the Leaders in Betting! Register Now for unparalleled insights.

Toronto FC’s Recent Form

Current Slump

Toronto FC have suffered defeat in three consecutive league games and have not been able to secure a win in their previous six matches (0 wins, 4 draws, and 2 losses) since their 5-1 triumph over Montreal on May 18th. A comparable downturn last season resulted in them finishing at the bottom of the league standings.

“Maybe the scars starting to open up from previous seasons,” said Toronto coach John Herdman. “(The coaching staff has been) reminding them that we’re not that team. We’re a team that’s sitting in the playoffs. We’re a team that has got first results, at different venues in our history and gotten clean sheets in rows. It’s deep trauma, you know, which is linked to the shaming moments of last year. When you’re used to connecting those things back together when there’s a bad result, or a tough moment, those emotions come back pretty quickly.”

Last Match

Toronto lost 3-0 to the host New York Red Bulls last Saturday. Despite the struggles, the team is looking to regain their form and confidence.

Head-to-Head

Toronto holds a 5-4-6 edge in regular-season meetings between the teams but has never won in Atlanta, with a record of 0-3-4. Toronto defeated host Atlanta 2-1 in the 2019 Eastern Conference final.

Conclusion

Atlanta United is seeking to end their losing streak at home and maintain their recent success with interim coach Rob Valentino, while they prepare to take on a struggling Toronto FC team in need of a victory. This game is essential for both teams’ playoff hopes as they look to enhance their positions.