These two clubs last squared off on Apr. 25 at BMO Field. Atlanta defeated TFC 2-1<\/a> on a rainy Saturday afternoon by the shores of Lake Ontario.<\/p>\n Tata Martino\u2019s Atlanta<\/p>\n For the past season and a half, Atlanta United were struggling to get consistent output from Ivorian striker Emmanuel Latte Lath. The now 27-year-old never really found his footing with the Georgian club after signing from Championship side Middlesborough in February 2025, for a hefty price tag of $22 million plus add-ons. That fee was the largest amount paid by any MLS team at that point. In 44 league matches played, Latte Lath scored nine goals and added three assists in just over 3100 minutes of action.<\/p>\n Owner Arthur Blank and head coach Gerardo Martino decided that Latte Lath needed a change of scenery and loaned the Ivorian to Union Berlin on Aug. 2 and found their replacement just a few weeks later.<\/p>\n Swiss striker Breel Embolo signed with The Five Stripes on Aug. 23<\/a> The 29 year-old had spent the bulk his career in the Bundesliga and Ligue 1. Embolo played with Schalke and Borussia M\u00f6nchengladbach before making a move to France in 2022, signing with Monaco for \u20ac12 million. He scored a career-best 12 goals in his debut season with Les Mon\u00e9gasques. Embolo then moved to Rennes on a four-year deal that was penned ahead of the 2025-26 season. He netted eight league goals in 31 appearances.<\/p>\n Embolo started all six of Switzerland\u2019s matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. During the bout between Canada and Switzerland<\/a> at BC Place, Embolo assisted what turned out to be game-winning goal that made Switzerland winners of Group B. Also in Vancouver, Embolo scored the opening goal in an eventual 2-0 win over Algeria<\/a> in the Round of 32. The Swiss were victorious over Colombia<\/a> in the Round of 16 \u2013 a game that was decided with a penalty shootout.<\/p>\n He recorded four goal contributions in four consecutive World Cup matches. That streak began in the Swiss\u2019 opening match vs. Qatar as he scored the lone goal for his nation in a shocking 1-1 draw<\/a>. Embolo notched an assist in the Rossocrociati\u2019s 4-1 drubbing<\/a> of Bosnia and Herzegovina. His World Cup ended on a sour note when he was sent off in the quarterfinal loss to Argentina on July 11<\/a>.<\/p>\n Needless to say, Embolo is more than capable of putting together consistent performances that can span many matches.<\/p>\n Atlanta\u2019s four most recent matches saw them earn three points. The only victory came on Oct. 14 when ATL defeated CF Montr\u00e9al 3-0 at Stade Saputo<\/a>.<\/p>\n Two consecutive home losses at Mercedes-Benz Stadium occurred on Oct. 17 against Inter Miami and Oct. 24 vs. Chicago Fire. A four-minute brace from legend Lionel Messi secured three points for the Herons. Chicago scored three unanswered goals before Embolo netted a consolation goal in the 68th minute \u2014 Atlanta were unable to find a leveller.<\/p>\n This past Wednesday, Atlanta suffered a late defeat to NYCFC at Citi Field that officially eliminated Martino\u2019s side from playoff contention. New York forward and Ivorian international B\u00e9nie Traor\u00e9 bagged the game-winner in the 95th minute to give the Pigeons a 2-1 result. Embolo scored his fourth goal of the season which tied the match in the 88th minute.<\/p>\n ATL has accumulated 14 points from 16 home matches and 23 goals were scored. Paraguayan attacker Miguel Almiron leads the team with 14 goal contributions (6G, 8A). Russian international Aleksei Miranchuk has six goals and seven assists. Since signing for The Five Stripes, Embolo logged 10 starts and played slightly under 900 minutes. 37 year-old Argentinian goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos posted five clean sheets to date.<\/p>\n Related Read: \u2018Relentless\u2019 Josh Sargent rises to the occasion again for Toronto FC<\/a><\/p>\n Two tough away matches remain for Toronto<\/p>\n TFC\u2019s final two battles of the regular season take place at venues where the Reds haven\u2019t won since 2019. Toronto\u2019s last victory in Atlanta was the 2019 MLS Eastern Conference final, which occurred almost exactly seven years ago to the day that this weekend\u2019s match is being played. That playoff bout was quite memorable for the TFC faithful \u2013 goalkeeper Quentin Westberg (who eventually suited up for the Five Stripes) denied striker Josef Mart\u00ednez\u2019s penalty attempt in the first half. Midfielder Nick Deleon etched his name in club folklore for scoring the game-winning goal from about 25 yards out. The Reds have never won a regular season matchup as Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Could that change this weekend?<\/p>\n On Nov. 7 (MLS Decision Day), Toronto FC visits The City of Brotherly Love to take on Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park. In their last five visits to Philadelphia, the Reds have been outscored 12-3. The Union have had an incredible second half of the season, led by interim head coach and former TFC defender Ryan Richter. Looking at the slight bright side for Toronto, their last two trips to Philly ended in draws (1-1 in 2024<\/a> and 0-0 in 2025<\/a>).<\/p>\n Although Toronto FC still has to rely on other results to go their way in the next week, TFC\u2019s fate lies in their hands.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/DSC09004-904x603.jpg\")
Courtesy: Shaun McLeod\/Canadian Soccer Daily<\/p>\n