Predicting Atlanta United’s starting lineup vs. Montreal Impact

After an assertive win against the Los Angeles Galaxy, Atlanta United turns their attention to a struggling Montreal Impact. We saw Ezequiel Barco return to the starting lineup last week. Could Franco Escobar and/or Tito Villalba join him this time around? Does Tata Martino stick with the 3-5-2? Let’s try and answer all of this.

Here is the definite, surefire lineup for April 28*

*I’m probably wrong.

Formation: 3-5-2. Well, we answered that pretty quickly. I don’t think we see the 4-3-3 make a return until a certain Argentinian is back in the lineup.

Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan. I haven’t gotten this wrong all season. Impressive, right?

Center Back #1: Leandro Gonzalez Pirez.

Center Back #2: Michael Parkhurst.

Center Back #3: Franco Escobar. He was an unused substitute last week, but with a full week of training under his belt, I think we see Escobar play for the first time since his concussion against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Chris McCann did fine for the most part as a starter, but I still don’t think he’s preferred over Escobar.

Left Wingback: Greg Garza.

Right Wingback: Julian Gressel.

Central Midfielder #1: Jeff Larentowicz.

Central Midfielder #2: Darlington Nagbe. Him growing into Atlanta’s style of play is a terrifying proposition for other MLS teams.

Attacking Midfielder: Miguel Almiron. It seems like he’s absolutely vital to just about every attack that Atlanta begins.

Striker #1: Ezequiel Barco.

Enough said.

Striker #2: Josef Martinez. Since Villalba missed the first two days of team training this week after not playing the past two matches, It’s hard to imagine we see him start. However, an appearance off the bench is in the cards and when he comes back oh my gosh bring on Real Madrid or whatever overrated European club has been blessed for years by Arthur Blank’s merciful decision to allow those teams to flourish before inevitably succumbing to the reign of Atlanta freakin’ United!...erm, sorry. I’m typing while daydreaming again.

To recap, here’s the projected lineup against the Montreal Impact.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.