Nashville SC vs Atlanta United Prediction, Picks & Odds

• Nashville have an inclination for late goals that have avoided defeats for most of the season
• Serious worries remain for Atlanta’s goalscoring in 2021
• Randall Leal could be on the verge of another superb performance for Nashville

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Nashville SC vs Atlanta United Odds

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Nashville SC vs Atlanta United Predictions and Picks

After a 2-2 draw in late May, both Nashville SC and Atlanta United will once again take the field against one another this Thursday.

Since their draw, Nashville have gradually gained momentum through seven points clinched out of their last four games.

Nashville have won two out of their last three matches, and in recent weeks, they’ve shown a tendency towards finding second winds that have pushed them towards late yet valuable goals.

As for Atlanta, it’s tough to say much progress has been made since the 2-2 tie.

How to Watch Nashville SC vs Atlanta United

Things haven’t exactly gone to plan for Atlanta this season.

With some renewed optimism after the hiring of manager Gabriel Heinze last December, media and fans began to buy into the idea that 2021 would be the start of a resurgence.

It hasn’t happened yet.

Only two wins have been secured in their first 11 matches. They’re only averaging one goal per game, which is fairly close to being the worst scoring average in the league.

Heinze’s system hasn’t truly been perfected yet, and with injuries adding to the list of concerns, it perhaps wasn’t much of a shock to see them go down 3-0 last week.

Long-story short: Atlanta are vulnerable.

And although Nashville aren’t a heavy-hitter in MLS just yet, they have been able to provide some flashy moments in the final stages of games that have salvaged points.

Last-Minute Goals Are Now A Specialty For Nashville

Never count Nashville out. Of their last seven goals scored, an eye-catching total of five have been scored at or after the 80th minute.

They seem to suddenly wake up in the 2nd halves of countless games, and regardless of the fact that it’s risky to leave their work for the final minutes, they’ve only lost once this season.

Much of this is thanks to their defense as well.

With names like Walker Zimmerman, Dave Romney and also Jack Maher leading the way, they’ve only allowed one goal in their last 180 minutes of play.

Atlanta’s Attack Is Completely Deflated

Again, it’s important to remember injury problems for key players — such as Josef Martinez who might not be fully fit this week — but Atlanta are a shadow of their former selves.

Once a new yet daunting club within MLS, Atlanta have now looked feeble with their lack of goals in their last three matches.

That’s worth repeating: Atlanta have gone scoreless for three consecutive games.

Even if Martinez makes it onto the gameday roster, there are no guarantees that he’ll be at 100% or even make an appearance in the starting XI.

Marcelino Moreno is the only player on the roster who has scored more for Atlanta than Martinez, and keep in mind, Moreno hasn’t found the back of the net since May.

As for the team in general under Heinze, despite all of their possession week in and week out, it’s clear that they aren’t doing much with it.

Another Standout Game In The Works For Nashville’s Randall Leal?

When MLS announced the Team of the Week on Monday, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see Nashville’s Randall Leal included in the XI.

Coming off a performance that included an assist for the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union, Leal easily had one of his best performances of the season.

The beautiful assist was impressive on its own, but Leal also chipped in with vital tackles, key passes and nearly forced an own-goal from Philadelphia in the 2nd half.

Leal appears reawakened, and on Thursday, we could potentially see another goal or assist from the attack-minded midfielder who now has more confidence under his belt.