MLS Matchday One Preview: Montreal at Atlanta United
MLS 2025 kicks off in the Benz tonight
The 2025 season opener is about one thing for the Five Stripes; tonight is the eye test.
Photo Credit: Atlanta United official website
Everything looks good on paper, the hype machine is in overdrive, a sold-out stadium, and a 2025 debut of an old fan favorite midfielder and a some-to-be fan favorite forward. A new coach, new players, new kit, and a new season of hopes and dreams…all in Atlanta tonight.
Tonight, however, is all about how it looks on the field. How it looks and feels in a meaningful match versus MLS opposition with first impressions of this new lineup going a long way. The fans of Atlanta United know what Five Stripes’ excellence looks like and they will certainly have this standard in mind as the team runs out their first squad of 2025.
Atlanta has a few players out for tonight’s match due to injury but there is more than enough depth and talent to put together a quality XI when the ball rolls tonight in the Benz.
Photo Credit: Atlanta United official website
The duo of Saba and Miranchuk get a huge boost of attacking support with the additions of Almiron and Latte Lath and the polar bear in the nets, Brad Guzan, will have a solid defensive block patrolling just in from of him.
Photo Credit: Atlanta United official website
Atlanta defeated Montreal on the road in the MLS play-in game in 2024 MLS Playoffs and Atlanta holds a 7-5-4 all-time record over Montreal including a 5-1-1 mark at home.
Montreal is the perfect opponent to open the 2025 campaign and Atlanta can show tonight just how much the team has improved in the off-season moves to rebuild this roster from the team that slipped past Montreal in the 2024 postseason.
Atlanta is 3-4-1 all-time in season openers but has won the last two season openers at home (3-1 win over Sporting KC in 2022 and 2-1 win over San Jose in 2023).
All that being said, the eye test is tonight at 7:30 PM. It’s difficult to imagine anything but a 3-1 Five Stripes’ win tonight.
MLS Cup will not be won or lost tonight…but passing the eye test tonight sets the tone for a very memorable 2025 campaign for the Five Stripes.