Preview: Atlanta United vs. Toronto - prediction, team news, lineups

In search of a third consecutive league victory, Atlanta United play host to Toronto at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the visiting team are on a barren run of four games without a win coming into the clash and will seek to return to winning ways.

Match preview

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With a 1-0 triumph over Los Angeles FC on Sunday, Atlanta United made it back-to-back wins to brighten the mood following a 12-game winless streak prior to that.

Josef Martinez struck within a minute of the second half to secure a huge win for Gonzalo Pineda in his first game at the helm of affairs.

The Five Stripes are now just five points off the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and looked to have turned a corner in recent weeks.

Up next for them is a tricky assignment against an opposing side who have come out on top in four of the last five meetings between the teams, including both of last season's encounters.

Thursday's hosts were solid at the back as they recorded what was only their third clean sheet of the season last time out, and a similar performance here would be a good platform to build on.

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Toronto failed to win on home turf for the seventh game on the trot as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to league leaders New England Revolution.

Javier Perez's men found themselves behind in the first half thanks to Tajon Buchanan's opener, but they hit back in the 79th-minute through Jonathan Osorio, before Gustavo Bou netted the winner from the spot four minutes later.

The Reds remain rooted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings despite having played two more games than the other teams in the bottom three.

With a league-high tally of 40 goals conceded, Thursday's visitors need to shore up at the back if they are to turn their season around.

Team News

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Emerson Hyndman and Franco Ibarra are not expected to feature as they remain sidelined with hamstring and muscle injuries respectively.

Mohammed Adams also misses out through a knee injury, while the trio of Brooks Lennon, Luiz Araujo and Jake Mulraney are major doubts for the game.

Toronto's Auro and Dom Dwyer will both miss the trip to Atlanta due to abdominal strains, but the latter is expected to return to action in the coming weeks.

Ayomide Akinola is yet to recover from a knee problem which he picked up on duty with the Canada national team at the Gold Cup.

The visitors will also have to cope with the absence of Japanese forward Tsubasa Endoh, who is still nursing a leg injury.

Atlanta United possible starting lineup:
Guzan; Bello, Walkes, Franco, Robinson, Hernandez; Moreno, Sosa, Rossetto; Barco, Martinez

Toronto possible starting lineup:
Bono; Lawrence, Zavaleta, Gonzalez, Laryea; Delgado, Bradley, Pozuelo; Soteldo, Osorio, Altidore

We say: Atlanta United 2-1 Toronto

The hosts come into this one with a spring in their step following their recent upturn in form. On the other hand, the visitors are going through a rough patch at the moment, and we are tipping the home team to claim all three points.