MLS Clash: Philadelphia Union Faces Atlanta United at Subaru Park

CHESTER, Pennsylvania — The Philadelphia Union will host Atlanta United on Saturday, April 20, at Subaru Park in search of a much-needed victory to revive their inconsistent season in Major League Soccer.

Having kicked off the 2025 season with a promising start, the Union currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings after an initial stretch where they won four of their first five matches. Yet, following that strong beginning, they have faltered, managing only three goals over their last four outings, raising concerns about their offensive consistency.

Even as they struggle, the Union have shown resilience in defense, conceding only four goals at home across four matches. “Our defense has been solid, but we need to translate that into goals at the other end,” said Union head coach Bradley Carnell.

Meanwhile, Atlanta United arrives at this match with its own set of challenges. Currently in 11th place, they are just four points off the Union yet have not found their footing, winning only two of their matches this season while conceding 13 goals. “We have the talent to compete, but we need to be more organized defensively,” Atlanta United coach Gonzalo Pineda noted.

In their past four matches, Atlanta has netted 11 goals but has also struggled defensively. With only one clean sheet to their name this season, Pineda’s side faces dire pressure to perform. “The Union are a tough opponent at home, but we’re focused on turning our form around,” Pineda added.

The anticipated lineups include Union’s Andre Blake, who missed a recent match with a groin injury but is expected to return. Young goalkeeper Matt Freese replaced him and made a critical error in their last match against New York City FC, which the team lost. The forward pairing of Mikael Uhre and Aleksey Makhanya will look to boost the scoresheet for the Union.

Atlanta United will feature goalkeeper Brad Guzan with a tried-and-true backline, although they might need to make adjustments due to ongoing injuries to players like Saba Lobjanidze and Gustavo Bou. The creative force in midfield will be critical in supporting star forward Miguel Almirón as he seeks to add to his goal tally.

As both teams gear up for this encounter, the stakes are high for each side. Philadelphia Union hopes to seize the home advantage and bolster their playoff aspirations, while Atlanta aims to secure vital points to climb the standings.

The match kicks off at 7:30 PM ET, and fans can expect a hard-fought battle as both teams vie for crucial points in the early stages of the MLS season.