Head Coach Patrick Vieira has made one change to the XI which started the 3-2 comeback win over Columbus Crew last weekend.
For Sunday afternoon’s clash against Atlanta United at Yankee Stadium, the Frenchman has brought back well-again David Villa in the week the Spanish sensation signed a new one-year contract extension.
That means Yangel Herrera, who scored and assisted in Ohio, is preferred to Andrea Pirlo who is again named among the substitutes in the Venezuelan’s final NYCFC engagement before the U20 World Cup.
Ben Sweat keeps his place at left-back alongside Alexander Callens, Maxime Chanot and Ethan White, while Alex Ring and Maxi Moralez join Herrera in the center of midfield.
Rodney Wallace and Jack Harrison provide the width on either side of Villa as NYCFC try to commence another unbeaten run at home ahead of a tricky run of road games in May.
Atlanta United will be out to bounce back from their 3-1 home defeat to DC United last weekend in one of the most mouthwatering games of the MLS Regular Season so far.
If you’re out and about today, you can keep up to date with all of the action from Yankee Stadium on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook – or, you can watch the game on the Univision Facebook page.
READ: How to Follow NYCFC vs Atlanta United
NYCFC XI: Johnson, White, Chanot, Callens, Sweat, Ring, Herrera, Moralez, Harrison, Wallace, Villa (C)
NYCFC Subs: Johansen, Awuah, Brillant, Pirlo, Camargo, Stertzer, Okoli
Key Stats
- NYCFC’s 2-1 loss to Orlando City on April 23 snapped an 11-game home unbeaten streak (9W- 2D). They only kept three clean sheets on that 11-game run.
- Atlanta’s 3-1 loss to D.C. United last weekend was the first time in franchise MLS history they conceded more than two goals in a game.
- Atlanta has conceded two own goals so far this year. Only four other teams have even conceded one own goal, and no other team has conceded multiple own goals so far in MLS 2017.
- NYCFC have conceded all nine of their goals so far this season from inside the box. Last season, 54 of the 64 goals they conceded (84%, third-highest in MLS) came from inside the box.
- Atlanta is one of three teams in the league that has yet to concede a goal in the opening 15 minutes of play so far this season (Philadelphia and Sporting are the other two).
- NYCFC’s David Villa is tied for the second-most shots (ex. blocks) this season with 25. Only nine players this season have more than 20 entering this weekend.
- Atlanta United midfielders Yamil Asad and Miguel Almirón are each tied for third in the league with three big chances created this season. Atlanta is one of two teams with at least two players that have created three or more big chances (Columbus Crew SC).
- Atlanta has only created 2 chances from set plays this season, the fewest in MLS.
- NYCFC has 79 chances created this season (inc. assists), tied for the sixth-most in the league.
- Atlanta United forward Hector Villalba is tied for 9th this season in shot conversion rate (inc. blocks) with 19.1% (min. 20 total shots inc. blocks).
