Atlanta United vs. Philadelphia Union – MLS, June 20, 2021

The Union will be looking to keep pace with Eastern Conference frontrunner New England when they face Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, June 20.

The reigning Supporters’ Shield champions find themselves just three points behind the Revs at the top end of the standings and have only lost two of their eight matches this season (four wins, two draws).

Meanwhile, the Five Stripes have suffered just one MLS defeat this year, although they have played one game less than Philly. Two wins and four draws see them sitting in eighth place – four behinds behind the U.

This Atlanta United vs. Philadelphia Union betting preview includes odds and team analysis, along with my prediction and pick for the match.

At first glance, you may think the prices for this matchup look pretty normal. But let’s not forget that Philadelphia has already beaten Atlanta 3-0 in Georgia this year.

The two sides met in the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals earlier this season, with the Union sealing a 4-1 aggregate victory. With that in mind, there is value everywhere you look here.

The betting sites favor the Five Stripes, but I think we need to take a closer look at the teams before landing on an Atlanta United vs. Philadelphia Union prediction.

Given that Gabriel Heinze is only a handful of games into his reign as ATL UTD head coach, it is still difficult to gauge exactly how his team will fare going forward. However, it’s fair to say that Heinze’s side is tough to beat.

Yes, the Five Stripes have only managed to win two of their seven MLS matches this season. But having picked up four draws, they have only suffered one loss.

The Georgia club has prevented some tricky opponents from winning, too.

Following the CCL exit at the hands of Philly, Heinze’s men have managed to string together a four-game unbeaten run. Can they extend that sequence to five matches on Sunday?

Including CCL outings, Jim Curtin’s men have played 12 games this season. Impressively, they have only suffered two defeats in 2021 – claiming seven wins and three draws along the way.

But since then, they have picked up four wins and one draw and head into Sunday’s clash on a three-game winning streak.

After seeing off Chicago, the defending Supporters’ Shield champs ended with a draw to the the Revs. Subsequent victories over the Red Bulls, DC United, and Portland have put the club in a seriously strong position.

It’s safe to say that Kacper Przybylko will be licking his lips at the prospect of coming up against Atlanta’s defense again. The Polish striker bagged a brace at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the CCL back in April before scoring again in the second leg.

It is no secret that Philadelphia enjoyed huge success against Atlanta earlier in the year. However, it feels like the Five Stripes have come a long way since then. Heinze has made his team extremely difficult to break down, suggesting that they could frustrate Philly this weekend.

Having analyzed both sides’ recent form, I think the draw is the best bet for Atlanta United vs. Philadelphia Union. After all, Heinze’s men have drawn four of their last five games in all competitions and have struggled for goals in the process.