Rob Valentino is confident Atlanta United can overcome their one-goal deficit against the “superstars” of Inter Miami in Game 2 of their best-of-three series in the MLS playoffs.

The Five Stripes lost their opening game of the postseason 2-1, with Jordi Alba’s long-range stunner sealing the triumph for Inter Miami, who will look to book their place in the next round with a victory.

But ahead of the encounter at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, interim head coach Valentino was excited to welcome the Herons to Georgia, believing his side are not out of the fight just yet.

“I’m already buzzing about what that place is going to be like,” Valentino said.

“My message to the team was that these people are waiting to cheer for you, you’ve been three on the road to finish into the playoffs and you can feel the buzz getting back for them.

“Even all the people coming to see [Lionel] Messi, no problem. I love it, because eventually, like last time when things were going well, they were also cheering [for us].

“I get it, come to see the superstars, come and see our team fight and compete but these boys aren’t done yet.”

Inter Miami, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their win from Game 1, a game that their dominance was not reflected by the scoreline.

The Herons managed 22 shots, 12 of which were on target, compared to Atlanta’s eight shots with only two on Drake Callender’s goal.

Gerardo Martino’s side were met with the imposing figure of Brad Guzan, who made nine saves during the contest.

The Miami head coach believes had it not been for the veteran shot stopper, the game could have been out of site.

“It was a match where what I liked the most was the control we had on the field for almost the entire game,” Martino said.

“We didn’t make many mistakes that would allow the opponent to break out into space. We had five clear chances in the first half, and one of them came very close to the post.

“We were patient. I believe that if it weren’t for Brad (Guzan)’s performance, the match should have ended with a clear difference.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Messi carried his fine form into the postseason, notching the assist for Alba’s winning goal against the Five Stripes in Game 1.

Across the Leagues Cup, US Open Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS Cup Playoffs, he has appeared in 10 knockout round matches for Inter Miami (single and multi-leg) and contributed to at least one goal in all of them (nine goals, five assists).

Atlanta United - Pedro Amador

Amador set up Saba Lobjanidze for Atlanta’s only goal in Game 1 on Friday, his sixth assist for the Five Stripes in the regular season and playoffs since debuting for the club in late August.

Only Alba (nine) and Riqui Puig (seven) have more assists than Amador in that time (including the playoffs).

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN

Inter Miami’s victory over Atlanta in Game 1 was the club’s 23rd MLS win of the campaign (regular season and playoffs). The only two teams in the post-shootout era with more wins in a single season, including playoffs, were Atlanta United (25) and the New York Red Bulls (24).

However, Atlanta are unbeaten in their last five home matches against Inter Miami (W4 D1), though Miami’s 2-2 draw at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 18 ended a four-match home winning streak for the Five Stripes.

The Herons’ only-ever win at Atlanta was a 2-1 victory in September 2020, but they will have confidence of adding another on enemy territory.

Atlanta have won only four of their last 18 home matches in all competitions (D6 L8) dating back to April, however. The Five Stripes won just six regular-season home matches in 2024, their fewest in a full regular season in club history (excluding the shortened 2020 season).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Atlanta United – 27.8%

Draw – 24.1%

Inter Miami – 48.1%

Rob Valentino is delighted Atlanta United have hit their stride in time for the MLS playoffs and is relishing their Best-of-3 Round One clash with Inter Miami at Chase Stadium.

The Five Stripes overturned the odds on Decision Day to snag a place in the Eastern Conference Wild Card round.

They took a 2-0 lead over CF Montreal before former player Josef Martinez pegged them back to force spot-kicks. Brad Guzan saved one, setting up Saba Lobjanidze to score the winner.

A tough test now awaits them in Miami on Friday, but Valentino is sure they can come up with a plan to get the better of Lionel Messi and co.

"We have worked so hard this season, every training, every game," he said. "Now we're starting to succeed, and it's the best timing in the end of the season to show that. Three in a row is very good! Let's continue!

"I think every time a team plays them, [how to stop Messi is] the question that is asked, right? He's arguably the best player that's ever played.

"We've faced him a few times and we know obviously his qualities. But they've got other players that are good, too. So there has to be a focus on him and also these teammates around him.

"We'll just show up when the game is there, and we'll go to win it."

Meanwhile, Miami, who are playing their first home playoff game, finished the regular season in record-breaking fashion, with their 6-2 victory over New England Revolution taking them to 74 points.

The Supporters' Shield winners are on an 11-match unbeaten streak coming into this match, and head coach Gerardo Martino believes their strong finish will benefit them in the playoffs.

"[The record points total] gives our team an injection of confidence," said Martino.

"These 74 points is not something we aimed for at the start of the year, but as soon as it was within reach, we tried to get it and we did it. It's a triumph for the whole Inter Miami family."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Inter Miami – Lionel Messi

Messi was involved in 1.82 direct goal contributions per 90 minutes this season, his highest rate in a league season in over a decade.

His 11-minute hat-trick off the bench against New England last time out took him to 20 goals for the campaign, adding to his 10 assists, and he is bound to be a threat in the playoffs.

Atlanta United – Saba Lobjanidze

Lobjanidze has come up with big goals throughout the season for Atlanta, but none more so than his match-winning penalty against Montreal on Tuesday.

Though that does not count towards his nine-goal haul for the season, he was still a threat in the Wild Card match, having three shots, two of which were on target, while he also had the most touches in the box among his team-mates (eight).

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN

After a resounding end to the season, Miami are unsurprisingly favourites to win the first of the Best-of-3 series, but they have stumbled when coming up against Atlanta as of late, drawing their most recent meeting after two straight defeats.

They lost just twice at Chase Stadium in the regular season (W11 D4), with the most recent of those a 3-1 defeat to the Five Stripes back in May, though they are unbeaten in their eight such matches since.

It is just the second time that Miami have made the playoffs – their only previous playoff match was a 3-0 defeat on the road at New York City FC in Round One in 2022.

Meanwhile, Atlanta are making their fifth appearance in the playoffs. They won the MLS Cup back in 2018, but in their two most recent appearances in the postseason, they have failed to get past Round One, losing to Columbus Crew.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Inter Miami – 62.7%

Draw – 19.8%

Atlanta United – 17.5%

CF Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois says the club "want more" as they look to overcome Atlanta United in the MLS playoffs Eastern Conference Wild Card match.

Montreal had looked unlikely candidates to make the playoffs, having endured a torrid run which saw them win just three of 15 games between June and mid-September.

However, they rallied in their final five games of the regular season, winning four of their final five games to seal eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Having secured home advantage for the tie, their first playoff game at Saputo Stadium since 2022, Courtois expects his players to be ready for the big match.

"We kind of surprised people already, but Tuesday is just an amazing game, and I'm so proud of these guys and staff, all the people that support us to do something interesting," Courtois told reporters.

"We're pleased to get the playoff spot in front of our fans, but now we want more. There's no cockiness, not too much humbleness. We just go.

"You don't switch on on game day. It just doesn't happen that way. We trust the guys to recover body and mind and be ready for the task against Atlanta."

Meanwhile, Atlanta overturned the odds on decision day to book ninth place on goal difference, as they beat Orlando City 2-1, but also got help as D.C. United and Philadelphia Union both lost.

They have won both of their matches since losing to Montreal at the start of October, and interim head coach Rob Valentino was delighted that they proved people wrong.

"There's a lot of emotions, but mainly joy for the players and staff who have had a tough year," he said.

"It shows that you can do anything if you keep showing up, doing your work, staying resilient, staying persistent.

"I believed in this group until the end, and it feels better after people wrote us off, but we've got ourselves in, and now we need to go and prove ourselves again."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CF Montreal – Josef Martinez

Atlanta United's all-time leading scorer, Josef Martinez, now playing for Montreal, has scored four goals in 211 all-time minutes against the Five Stripes.

The resulting 1.71 goals per 90 minutes rate is the highest of any player against Atlanta in MLS play (min. 200 minutes played).

Atlanta United – Saba Lobjanidze

Saba Lobjanidze finished the regular season as Atlanta's leading goalscorer, netting nine times, including one in their final match against Orlando City.

He only had two shots in that game, creating just 0.13 expected goals (xG), but converted his big chances, and had the most touches in the box amongst his team-mates (five).

MATCH PREDICTION: CF MONTREAL WIN

This will be the first postseason meeting between CF Montreal and Atlanta United. Montreal won both meetings this season, their first league double over the Five Stripes.

Montreal have won five of their six all-time home playoff matches (L1), though the lone defeat came in their last home playoff match, a 3-1 loss to New York City FC in the 2022 Conference Semifinals.

This will be Atlanta's second single-leg playoff knockout match on the road after losing 2-0 at NYCFC in the 2021 First Round. Atlanta have lost their last four away playoff matches overall, including both games in Columbus in the 2023 First Round.

However, they won their final two matches of the regular season, their first set of back-to-back wins in all competitions since March. The Five Stripes have not won three straight matches in all competitions in over three years, since a three-match run in September 2021.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

CF Montreal – 41.2%

Draw – 26.7%

Atlanta United – 32.2%

Rob Valentino questioned Atlanta United's mentality after their recent drop in form and hopes to find a solution before meeting the New York Red Bulls in MLS.

The Five Stripes are winless in their last four matches, drawing three in a row before falling to a disappointing 2-1 loss to CF Montreal in midweek.

Sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference, they can still mathematically clinch a playoff spot, but they have to win their final two matches and hope other results go their way.

Valentino was not happy with what he saw from his players against Montreal though, questioning their desire.

"We should always be fighting to win the game, and you just can't give up," Valentino said.

"I'm not going to sugarcoat things, but at the end of the day, I also see that it looks like it doesn't really matter [to the players]. It should look different.

"It's about recovering and going again, but there's no easy solve."

Jim Curtin knows Philadelphia Union have no margin for error as they chase a playoff spot, with Atlanta United next up for them in MLS.

The Union are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference, having put together big back-to-back wins against New York City FC (5-1) and D.C. United (4-0) in their last two matches.

They have now won three of their last four matches in the league, but Curtin warned his players that they cannot ease off the pressure until their playoff spot is secured.

"Every game is must win now. There's no margin for error for any team that isn't above the red line comfortably," Curtin said.

"The home games always become really critical. We've had a tough schedule, but all these points matter because anything could be the difference.

"There'll be a lot of highs and lows, and everybody still has hope and it's going to be a sprint to the finish. We recognise the challenge, but you have to say must-win until you're mathematically eliminated."

Meanwhile, Atlanta sit two places and three points below their opponents in the table after failing to win any of their last three matches.

They have drawn their last two outings 2-2 though, and interim head coach Rob Valentino is hoping they can take a more direct approach in an attempt to find a cutting edge.

"Do we really think we can play through? Then great, let's do it," Valentino said. "But if I think that we can be more direct and expose their centrebacks or expose a certain area of the pitch, let's go and do it.

"Let's not waste time with the ball. The intentional possession of what we're doing with it. I just want to make sure that we're intentional about what we're doing with the ball."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Philadelphia Union – Mikael Uhre

Mikael Uhre scored the opening goal in the Union's win over D.C. United on Sunday, his fourth straight match with a goal.

Uhre is the fifth player in Union history to score in four straight regular-season matches, though only one, Daniel Gazdag, has scored in five straight (August-September 2022).

Atlanta United – Edwin Mosquera

Edwin Mosquera's goal at 90+2' for Atlanta United on Saturday was the club's 11th goal from outside the box this season.

Only Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake (12 each) have more in 2024.

MATCH PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA UNION WIN

The Union have won each of their last four regular-season home matches against Atlanta United. Atlanta's lone win at Subaru Park was a 2-0 victory in July 2018.

The Union have won two straight matches, winning each by a four-goal margin. This is the 15th time in MLS history a team has recorded back-to-back four-goal wins, including the second by the Union (August 2022), but no team has ever won three straight matches by four or more goals.

Meanwhile, Atlanta have won only two of their last 10 regular season matches (D3 L5) dating back to the beginning of July. Each of Atlanta's last two matches ended in 2-2 draws.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Philadelphia Union – 56.9%

Draw – 22.3%

Atlanta United – 20.8%

Atlanta United interim head coach Rob Valentino is hoping his side can find their end product when they face a tough road test at Real Salt Lake in MLS.

The Five Stripes' four-game unbeaten streak was snapped with a 2-1 midweek defeat to the New England Revolution as they stay ninth in the Eastern Conference.

They were also unbeaten in their last four road games before travelling to the Revs, and Valentino has urged his team to improve their play in the final third to get back to winning ways.

"There were chances [against New England], but the expected goals and chances don't mean anything to me unless they end up in the back of the net," the head coach said.

"The team were persistent. They were putting in different deliveries and different movements to get into the area, but we need the goals to actually go in.

"The group have shown they are capable of winning games. The tactics will change from game to game along with roles and responsibilities, and we will adapt in-game as well in an attempt to win."

Meanwhile, Salt Lake are back up to second in the Western Conference after a comeback win over the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday.

A 1-0 defeat to LA Galaxy at the end of June snapped a 15-game unbeaten streak for RSL, but they bounced back to leapfrog the Galaxy in the table, and now sit just three points behind leaders Los Angeles FC.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Salt Lake – Braian Ojeda

Braiain Ojeda scored his first goal for RSL in MLS, netting what turned out to be the winner against Houston Dynamo in midweek in what was his 63rd appearance for the club.

Atlanta United – Daniel Rios

Daniel Rios has been involved in three goals in his last three games for Atlanta. The Mexican has scored two and assisted one, including their lone goal in the defeat to New England Revolution last time out.

MATCH PREDICTION: REAL SALT LAKE WIN

With LAFC not playing until Sunday, RSL could go level on points with them in the table if they can get a second consecutive win.

Their 15-game unbeaten run in MLS set a new club record for the longest single-season streak in their history – they scored in all but one of those matches, only failing to find a way past CF Montreal in a 0-0 draw.

While current form is in Salt Lake's favour, they have only won one of their previous four meetings with Atlanta, with the Five Stripes winning the other three.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Salt Lake – 54.6%

Draw – 23.3%

Atlanta United – 22%

St. Louis City must use this week's home clash with Atlanta United to turn things around after seven games without a victory, says defender Anthony Markanich.

St. Louis were thrashed 3-0 by the Colorado Rapids in midweek to extend their miserable run of form, with their last victory coming against the Chicago Fire back on May 12.

They have slipped to 12th in the Western Conference standings after topping the pile in their first campaign in MLS in 2023, and Markanich says they need to harness the support they receive at CITYPARK.

"I think every home game should be a win," Markanich said. "These next two games are very important."

Reflecting on their midweek defeat, head coach Bradley Carnell said: "At the moment, we can have certain things not going our way. We're not looking for excuses or for help, we have to help ourselves out of this situation. 

"I'm confident in my group that we can do that. It's not been what we were looking for and we know we can do better."

Atlanta, meanwhile, have won back-to-back matches to rise to ninth in the Eastern Conference, looking revitalised under interim head coach Rob Valentino.

Thiago Almada scored their winner against D.C. United last time out, leading Valentino to heap praise upon the 2022 World Cup winner.

"He ends up showing his quality, that's what he's there for," Valentino said of Almada.

"He works hard in training to do that, whether he's got pressure on him or not. As a staff we try to take the pressure off everyone in the group and let them go out and enjoy their football."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

St. Louis City – Joao Klauss

Klauss' five goals in MLS this year are more than any other St. Louis player, while only Celio Pompeu and Eduard Lowen (three apiece) have bettered his two assists among his team-mates.

Atlanta United – Thiago Almada 

Almada scored the only goal of the match from outside the box in Atlanta's win over D.C. United on Wednesday, his 12th career MLS goal from outside the area, four more than any other player since he joined the league in 2022.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW 

This will be the first ever meeting between St. Louis and Atlanta. The hosts are winless in four straight games on their own turf for the first time in club history.

Atlanta, meanwhile, have recorded back-to-back road wins for the first time in almost three years, since victories over the Columbus Crew and D.C. back in August 2021.

The Five Stripes had drawn four of their previous five away matches across all competitions, though, and another draw could be on the cards here.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

St. Louis City – 37%

Atlanta United – 36.6%

Draw – 26.4%

Atlanta United interim head coach Rob Valentino is hoping to get off to a positive start when they welcome Houston Dynamo to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Atlanta announced on June 3 that they had parted ways with Gonzalo Pineda, with Valentino stepping into his shoes with the Five Stripes sitting 13th in the Eastern Conference.

They have won just one of their last 11 matches in the MLS – beating Inter Miami 3-1 – but defeat to Charlotte FC last time out spelt the end for Pineda.

"I want to get back to that enjoyment," Valentino said. "How we can find that every day, on and off the field - and shared success.

"When you look at teams and organizations, it is not one person's fault, it is shared in terms of where we are. There is that responsibility and accountability.

"But on the other side of it, I want there to be shared success. We really want to enjoy the day-to-day. I think that is going to be the message going forward from myself."

Meanwhile, Houston are seventh in the Western Conference after losing just two of their seven matches before the mid-season break.

Having ended their scoreless run in May, head coach Ben Olsen is keen to ensure their good run in front of goal continues.

"Even on the road, we're putting up numbers," said Olsen. "We're constantly working to fine-tune some things and push the guys in making real actions and moving with conviction in the final third.

"[Not scoring] was a frustrating period for us, so now, hopefully, the goal stays big for us. There's a lot still to be desired, but I'm looking forward to being back at work."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Atlanta United – Thiago Almada

Almada scored his fourth goal of the campaign in Atlanta's defeat to Charlotte FC last time out, making him joint-second in the team’s scoring charts this season. He is now just one behind top scorer Giorgos Giakoumakis.

Houston Dynamo – Sebastian Kowalczyk

Kowalczyk has scored in consecutive games for the Dynamo after having found the net just once in his first 21 career MLS matches. Kowalczyk is the third Dynamo player to score in consecutive appearances this season after Latif Blessing, Ibrahim Aliyu.

MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA UNITED WIN

The home side has won all three meetings between Atlanta and Houston. The home side have outscored the visitors 13-1 in the three games, with the hosts scoring at least four times in all three meetings.

However, Atlanta have lost a club-record five straight regular-season home matches. Prior to this run, Atlanta had never lost more than two consecutive home league games before.

Since moving to the Western Conference in 2015, the Dynamo have managed just five wins in 41 away matches against Eastern foes (D9 L27). Since the start of the 2019 season, Houston have lost 14 of 19 away matches against the East (W2 D3).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Atlanta United – 44%

Draw – 26.8%

Houston Dynamo – 29.2%