Atlanta United Shifts Lineup for Southern Showdown Against Nashville SC

With star midfielder Miguel Almirón sidelined, the 5-Stripes bring in extra midfield support for the crucial MLS match.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 10:51pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the action and energy of a soccer match, with players and the field broken down into sharp, intersecting geometric shapes and planes in vibrant colors.Atlanta United's tactical adjustments aim to overcome the loss of a key player and secure a crucial result against their Southern rivals.Columbus Today

Atlanta United will be without star midfielder Miguel Almirón for their upcoming match against Nashville SC due to a knee injury. In his absence, head coach Tata Martino has opted to start four natural midfielders - Jay Fortune, Matías Galarza, Cooper Sanchez and Tristan Muyumba - to provide extra support in the middle of the park. The 5-Stripes will also be relying on forwards Alexey Miranchuk and Emmanuel Latte Lath to lead the attack against a stout Nashville defense.

Why it matters

This lineup shift by Atlanta United highlights the club's depth and tactical flexibility as they try to overcome the absence of one of their key players. The Southern Showdown between the two MLS rivals is an important match in the Eastern Conference standings, making Almirón's injury a significant challenge for the 5-Stripes to overcome.

The details

With Almirón sidelined for 1-2 weeks due to a knee injury, Atlanta United has brought in an additional midfielder to the starting lineup. Jay Fortune, Matías Galarza, Cooper Sanchez and Tristan Muyumba will all start in the midfield, providing extra support behind forwards Alexey Miranchuk and Emmanuel Latte Lath. The backline remains unchanged from the club's previous MLS match, with Lucas Hoyos in goal and Tomás Jacob, Elías Báez, Stian Gregersen and Enea Mihaj in defense.

  • Atlanta United's midweek match against Chattanooga FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was on April 16, 2026.
  • The Southern Showdown against Nashville SC is scheduled for April 18, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.

The players

Tata Martino

The head coach of Atlanta United who has made the lineup changes for this match.

Miguel Almirón

Atlanta United's star midfielder who is unavailable for this match due to a knee injury.

Jay Fortune

An Atlanta United midfielder who is in line for his first MLS start since returning from a season-ending foot injury last season.

Alexey Miranchuk

The Atlanta United forward who is captaining the team for the second match in a row and has scored a team-high 4 goals this season.

Lucas Hoyos

The Atlanta United goalkeeper who will start in goal for this match.

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What they’re saying

“With one of their stars absent, Atlanta United is trying something new as they gear up for the Southern Showdown with Nashville SC.”

— Managing Editor

What’s next

The match between Atlanta United and Nashville SC on April 18, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. will be an important Eastern Conference clash as both teams look to gain ground in the standings.

The takeaway

Atlanta United's depth and tactical flexibility will be tested as they try to overcome the absence of star midfielder Miguel Almirón. The 5-Stripes will need strong performances from their midfield and forwards to secure a result against a tough Nashville SC team.