Starting XI and roster notes: Saba Lobjanidze to start for FC Cincinnati match

It's Saba Time at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, right from the first whistle.

Atlanta United's number nine was named to head coach Ronny Deila's starting lineup for the first time since May 3. Lobjanidze has been on quite the tear impacting games off the bench, assisting the 5-Stripes' road equalizer against Austin FC May 14 and playing over 70 minutes against Philadelphia Union last Saturday.

Deila again will opt for a five-at-the-back formation as Atlanta United faces FC Cincinnati on Sunday Night Soccer. The system has seen Atlanta United playing its more confident football since the winless streak began. He'll turn to it again a top-of-the-table team in Cincinnati.

The lineup features Pedro Amador and Saba as the all-important wing backs, tasked with providing numbers in defense and being wide threats in attack.

Matt Edwards once again slides over from his natural right back position to play right center back in a trio. Derrick Williams and Luis Abram start alongside him at center back for the second consecutive match.

It'll be a midfield three for the 5-Stripes Sunday, with Jay Fortune, Bartosz Slisz and Alexey Miranchuk lined up to start in the middle of the park. It's a balanced group and could shape up to be a No. 6, a No. 8 and a No. 10 positionally. Miranchuk will make his 400th career professional club appearance.

Leading the line is a partnership: Miguel Almirón and Emmanuel Latte Lath. The two have been developing their chemistry and interplay, and they'll be the focal points of the Atlanta United attack. Latte Lath returns to the starting lineup after Jamal Thiaré started up front most recently against Philadelphia. The Ivorian will be hungry to make his mark on the match and score his first goal since March 29.

Here's the full starting XI for Atlanta United vs FC Cincinnati:

Brad Guzan (C), Saba Lobjanidze, Matt Edwards, Derrick Williams, Luis Abram, Pedro Amador, Jay Fortune, Alexey Miranchuk, Bartosz Slisz, Miguel Almirón, Emmanuel Latte Lath

Reserves: Josh Cohen, Noah Cobb, Efraín Morales, Ronald Hernández, Mateusz Klich, Will Reilly, Edwin Mosquera, Luke Brennan, Jamal Thiaré

Roster Notes:

-- Alexey Miranchuk is slated to make his 400th career appearance at the professional club level. He's tallied 69 goals and 75 assists throughout those matches.

-- Brad Guzan will start in goal and captain Atlanta United, as he has in every match this season for the 5-Stripes. Before this weekend's matches, the goalkeeper was third in MLS with 51 saves this season.

-- Emmanuel Latte Lath will start for the 13th time this season. He appeared as a substitute for the first time in the 2025 campaign last time out against Philadelphia Union. He leads Atlanta United with five goals this season.

-- In the last three matches, Derrick Williams has been on a tear clearing the ball. He made 26 clearances during last week’s matches, including a season-high 14 at Chicago and six clearances against both Austin and Philadelphia.

-- Atlanta United is 3-2-2 (W-L-D) all-time against FC Cincinnati at home, but the 5-Stripes haven't won this matchup in Mercedes-Benz Stadium since 2021, when they ran over the Orange and Blue 4-0.

-- May 25th is World Football Day, and it will be just the second time that Atlanta United has played on the day in club history. One year ago today, the 5-Stripes played LAFC in a 1-0 loss.

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