For the first time in four excruciatingly long months, Atlanta United plays a real, live match tonight to kick off their MLS is Back Tournament campaign. No longer do fans have to resort to replays of past matches in order to get their Five Stripe fix. The 2018 MLS Cup is great, sure, but the fresh uncertainty that comes with live sports has been severely missed. Now, it’s back.
And boy, will we get uncertainty. Despite this being game number three in the regular season, it’s hard not to treat tonight as a season opener. With a nearly clean injury report and a break longer than the previous offseason, this Atlanta United will be different from the one that beat FC Cincinnati 2-1 back in March.