Availability report and match preview: Basketball inspiration as Atlanta United heads north to Toronto

Head coach Tata Martino is feeling energized before his squad flies to Toronto for their away match this weekend. Last night, El Profe was at the Atlanta Hawks' playoff game, a closely-contested victory against the New York Knicks to take a 2-1 series lead. The gaffer has expressed his love for the NBA in the past, and he spoke about the atmosphere in the building at the end of his media availability Friday afternoon.

The 5-Stripes are aiming to take some of the good ATLien vibes from their neighbors up to Canada for tomorrow's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.

Central to the footballing identity that Martino often mentions is a desire to play an attractive game. That means pressing even when ahead, moving the ball and making daring runs, trying things to break a game open. It's what we saw Wednesday night, even in a loss.

"It's fundamental for me, not just in football but in sport in the United States," Martino said in Spanish Friday. "I don't forget that in basketball, fans chant 'defense', but when a team plays with an attractive style, the fans feel they can identify with the team they're watching ... We want to have that kind of connection."

Availability remains the same

The 5-Stripes will have an identical squad eligible for the trip to Toronto as the one that played against New England Wednesday night. Miguel Almirón, who was listed as out for 1-2 weeks for the first time last weekend, remains nursing a knee injury. Martino and his staff are being extra precautious with their designated player, especially in the middle of a stretch of frequent matches.

Steven Alzate and Sergio Santos are both still unavailable with adductor and calf injuries, respectively. Tomás Jacob is the only player listed as questionable for Toronto. The Argentinian missed his first match of the MLS season against New England with a lower leg injury.

Melting the ice in Toronto

It won't feel much like April for the 5-Stripes when they head up to Canada tomorrow. Though the match is set for an afternoon kick, forecasts predict rain with a high of about 45 degrees. Atlanta United will look to bring some Southern heat with them, trying to turn around their recent form.

"We're missing something, so we're going to find what we're missing," Saba Lobjanidze said Friday. "... We're going to find the way."

Having now seen the ball into the back of the net, breaking a goalless streak in MLS play, the 5-Stripes have something to build on in the attack. Lobjanidze, who started Saturday, was one of a couple new players in the fold to make an impact.

"The team, even when we’re up 1-0, we’re not trying to settle for a 1-0 result, we’re looking for that second goal," Martino said in Spanish Friday. "We had a couple of chances where we could’ve found it, so I think that’s a good thing that the team is continuing to search for that goal. That’s the way we want to play."​

Fafa Picault, in his first MLS start with Atlanta United, scored the opening goal Wednesday night. It came after a smooth sequence that started with a switch ball to Pedro Amador, and Saba's saved strike fell right into the Haitian forward's path — all players that haven't been consistent starters this season.

"[What I've seen] is the same player we've seen throughout his entire career," Martino said. "He's a guy that has immediate impact in the team. He has courage, understanding, he's dangerous, and this is the same that I've seen in almost all the clubs he's been at."

The emergence of depth in the attack is particularly important with Almirón's absence, and Martino also spoke about giving forward Emmanuel Latte Lath a chance to reset and get back to his best form. The Ivorian scored the latest goal in Atlanta United history to earn a point on the road against Toronto on the road in July 2025, and this trip may be a chance for him to get some wind under his sails.

Saturday's match could see some shifts in previous weekend lineups, especially given the way players like Picault performed in the midweek.

"We have the obligation to try to look for new ways and new variables to improve the team," Martino said. "What we don’t want to change is the main footballing idea of the team and the way we want to play, but we can do it in small ways or in the names of the players."

Toronto FC has undergone significant changes as a squad since last season, bringing in veteran Walker Zimmerman in defense and designated players Josh Sargent in attack. Their recent form has been bizarre, with both of their last two matches ending in shootout 3-3 draws. The Reds have scored 10 and conceded 9 in their last four matches, meaning we might have a high-scoring affair in store Saturday afternoon.

Martino and Co. are taking what they've learned from their successful stretches of play this season. Now, the task is to expand the control from just a portion of a match to the entirety of one, translating positive ball movement and chance creation into tangible goals and results.

The gaffer said cutting out individual errors across the squad will be a part of that process, meanwhile Lobjanidze took a more holistic approach.

"In Toronto, we're going to play the same game we did in the first 60 minutes [of the New England match]," Lobjanidze said. "A lot of attacking runs, defending together. But it's going to be 90 minutes, not 60."

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