⚽️ Martinez, Glesnes and Flach Available

Good morning. It’s game day! Atlanta United is here for the first of the Union’s final two regular season games at Subaru Park. Both teams are into the playoffs but will be jockeying for a critical three points in an intense battle for home field advantage in the playoffs.

In the email today:

In a week when the hot topic has been the number of games the Union have played this season, the team has gotten some good news heading into the mid-week clash with Atlanta United. Jose Martinez, Jakob Glesnes and Leon Flach are all available for selection, according to head coach Jim Curtin.

• Kai Wagner will serve a suspension for yellow card accumulation on Wednesday.

• It’s unclear whether any of the trio will be fit enough to start but their return to the team is a welcome sign ahead of a tough three-game set to end the regular season.

Our take: Don’t expect to see any of them starting - maybe El Brujo gets the nod but it’s more likely he starts Saturday - but just having players back from injury will strengthen the team in training and beyond.

2) 🔄 Atlanta United a Changed Team

When Union fans complain about how little impact the summer transfer window has had on a team that needed some strengthening, Atlanta United’s window might be what they’re talking about.

• Atlanta spent $2.5 million in transfer fees on French midfielder Tristan Muyumba and Georgian winger Saba Lobzhanidze while also bringing in Senagalese winger Jamal Thiaré on a free.

• Lobzhanidze has already contributed 3 goals and 3 assists in 6 appearances and Muyumba has a goal in 7 appearances. Thiaré has just one game under his belt with the Five Stripes.

• Union head coach Jim Curtin: “They (added) two wingers that are a real handful, a six that is as good as any I've seen so far. So they've really strengthened their team.”

• While the Union have drawn all of their last five games, Atlanta has two wins, two draws and a loss in their last five.

Our take: The Union lost 2-0 in Atlanta in July but are back home where they rarely slip up. Even a changed Atlanta United team will have to deal with playing in one of the more difficult away venues to win in in the league over the last few seasons.

3) 📣 Meme of the Day: Phillies Playoffs

4) 💧 Water Cooler: First Goal

Have additional thoughts? Reply directly to this email to comment, and see if we include your response tomorrow.

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Results from our last poll Which Remaining Home Game is Bigger?:

5) 🔗 Link Roundup:

• 🟥⬛️ Dirty South Soccer previews tonight’s game from the Atlanta United perspective. “Atlanta won’t quite be able to pull off a statement win in Pennsylvania, but it will manage a draw against the Union after goals from Carranza (x2) and Giakoumakis and Xande Silva for the good guys.”

• 🇨🇦 Canadian international and former Reading United defender Kamal Miller has signed a contract extension with Inter Miami.

• 🏋️‍♀️ The Union check in at No. 6 in the latest Power Rankings on the MLS website.

The newsletter today was written by: Matt Ralph @MattRalph_

Thanks for reading!