SCOUTING REPORT: ATLANTA UNITED VS. SAN JOSE

(All stats from last season)

San Jose manager: Luchi Gonzalez

Record: 8-15-11

San Jose on road: 1-11-5

Atlanta United at home: 8-4-5

San Jose goals for/against: 52/69

San Jose expected goals for/ against: 44.9/60.8

Atlanta United goals for/ against: 48/54

Atlanta United expected goals for/against: 55.8/50.2

San Jose key players

Jeremy Ebobisse: 17 goals, two assists

Cristian Espinoza: Seven goals, nine assists

Jamiro Monteiro: Four goals, six assists

San Jose new signings

Carlos Gruezo, defensive midfielder

Daniel, goalkeeper Jonathan Mensah, centerback

United key players

Thiago Almada: Six goals, 12 assists

Luiz Araujo: Four goals, six assists

Andrew Gutman: Four goals, two assists

Brooks Lennon: Two goals, seven assists

United new signings

Giorgos Giakoumakis, striker Luis Abram, centerback Derrick Etienne, winger

Talking points 1. How will San Jose play under Gonzalez?

The former U.S. men’s assistant is in his first year with the club. It has added talent, but can it make any progress?

2. Can San Jose’s defense hold up? It couldn’t last year in giving up the second-most goals in the league. It tried to strengthen its spine with the acquisitions of Gruezo as a DP, trading for Mensah and signing Daniel on a TAM deal.

3. How will Atlanta United play? It scored goals in bunches this preseason, but it has also given up many goals, frequently when it has switched off mentally.

Injury reports Atlanta United Out:

Santiago Sosa (suspended), Ozzie Alonso (recovery from torn ACL), Machop Chol (hamstring) and Tyler Wolff (shoulder).

San Jose

Unavailable

United’s predicted 11

■ Goalkeeper Brad Guzan

■ Centerback Miles Robinson

■ Centerback Juanjo Purata

■ Right fullback Brooks Lennon

■ Left fullback Andrew Gutman

■ Defensive midfielder Franco Ibarra

■ Midfielder Matheus Rossetto

■ Attacking midfielder Thiago Almada

■ Right wing Luiz Araujo

■ Left wing Caleb Wiley*

■ Striker Jackson Conway*

* Notes: Giakoumakis’visa hadn’t arrived as of Thursday night. If it doesn’t arrive soon, he won’t be eligible to play in this game. If it arrives Friday, he may be a part of the game-day squad, but unlikely to start because he hasn’t been able to train with the team ... Abram and Etienne weren’t able to participate in training sessions until the final two weeks, so fitness may be an issue for them, too.