Toronto FC and Atlanta United square off on Saturday night looking for the victories that they need to move away from the bottom of the Eastern Conference table.
Only CF Montreal are behind these two teams, with Atlanta holding a one-point advantage over Toronto with the clubs sitting in 13th and 14th position respectively.
To Toronto's credit, they have collected four points from their last three MLS fixtures, while Atlanta earned a goalless draw with 12th-placed DC United in their most recent league fixture.
How the bookies see it: Toronto with the edge?
The betting odds offered by Boylesports indicate that the bookmakers have no idea how this game will pan out, Toronto viewed as the marginal 11/8 favourites.
Atlanta can be had at 6/4, with the draw at 5/2. However, perhaps the most telling statistics are Toronto accumulating four points from their last two fixtures at BMO Field at a time when Atlanta are still searching for their first MLS away victory of 2025.
Head to head: An even historical matchup
Not only is their respective form in 2025 similar, these two teams have frequently won and lost in their 18 previous fixtures.
Toronto have prevailed on six occasions in comparison to five wins for Atlanta, the other seven games ending in a draw.
Not only that, the goal difference is 28-27 in Toronto's favour, while the home team won in the two fixtures that took place in 2024.
However, it is worth noting that these two sides have not squared off for more than a year.
Players to watch: Corbeanu to take centre stage
With Federico Bernardeschi having recently departed Toronto, Theo Corbeanu is left to step up as top goalscorer.
The versatile winger has three goals from his last seven fixtures and feels like a better bet to score than number nine Ola Brynhildsen, who has just two goals from 15 appearances.
Atlanta have netted just one goal in their last four games, leading marksman Emmanuel Latte Lath having now failed to score in 13 MLS matches.
Predicted lineups: Change in attack for Toronto?
Deandre Kerr is an option to return to the Toronto FC starting lineup as an alternative for Brynhildsen, the 22-year-old striker having netted twice in 275 minutes of MLS football this season.
That may prove to be the only alteration unless Richie Laryea is recalled in a defensive or wide role.
Matt Edwards and Tristan Muyumba are both options to come back into the side in defence and midfield respectively, but Ronny Deila may feel inclined to keep with the same side after the clean sheet versus DC United.
Like Latte Lath, Miguel Almiron is another player who is offering little in attack, but the playmaker should keep his place here.
Toronto FC: Johnson; Thompson, Long, Rosted, Petretta; Coello; Corbeanu, Longstaff, Dominguez, Spicer; Kerr
Atlanta United: Guzan; Lennon, Morales, Abram, Amador; Reilly, Klich; Almiron, Miranchuk, Lobjanidze; Lath
Anything else catch the eye?
Toronto recorded a 3-0 victory over Portland Timbers – the fourth-placed team in the Western Conference – in their last home fixture.
That three-goal haul represented a third of the nine goals that Toronto have scored in 12 MLS fixtures at BMO Field in 2025.
Atlanta United have collected just three points from their 10 MLS games on their travels, scoring just the five goals. They have conceded 22 strikes.
Kerr was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute against New York City FC, an indication that a start could follow here.
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