D.C. United v Atlanta United: Lesesne confident after Benteke return

D.C. United head coach Troy Lesesne believes Christian Benteke will provide the necessary confidence boost in the changing room ahead of facing Atlanta United. 

Benteke's seven-game absence has coincided with D.C.'s poor run, with the team winning just one of those matches (D2 L4), scoring just four goals in that period. 

But the experienced Belgian made his return in their 1-0 defeat to Nashville SC last time out, with the club sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference standings. 

Lesesne, however, is confident that the return of talisman Benteke, along with Peglow and Jackson Hopkins, can give his side a much-needed boost.

"There wasn't a lot in the [Nashville] game," said Lesesne. "We started in a pretty good way. I thought we had moments when we could have created more and you felt like we were starting to generate some ball wins, and the final action never happened.

"I think our structure was way better, way more cohesive against the ball, and we are going to need that going into Atlanta.

"It is fantastic to have Christian back, Peglow back, Jackson Hopkins back, so that is going to make a big difference for us.

"Him [Benteke] and his personality, it exudes confidence. He is still our leading goal scorer and only played in 50% of the matches this year, so I think that says everything.

"Also just his demeanour in the locker room, he gives confidence to other guys and it is going to be important that he remains fit for us so we can do what we need to do."

Benteke will be hoping to start in their next game, which comes against conference rivals Atlanta, who have endured struggles of their own of late. 

The Five Stripes have also lost their last three matches as they sit two places below D.C. United, but just one point behind.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

D.C. United – Christian Benteke

Benteke had been in fine form for D.C. until his recent ankle injury, netting six league goals in 13 appearances so far this season. 

He has registered at least one shot in 75 regular-season matches since his arrival in MLS in 2022. Over the last 10 seasons for D.C., only Lucho Acosta (100) and Steven Birnbaum (110) recorded more games with a single shot for the club.

Atlanta United – Brooks Lennon

Lennon scored his first goal of the season in a road match on June 25 for Atlanta. It was his first regular-season goal since September 16, 2023, against Inter Miami FC.

Three of his last five goals in the regular season have come in away games, and he will be looking to make another impact at Audi Field. 

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

D.C. have not scored multiple goals in a regular-season home match since a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids at the beginning of May. They have scored one goal or fewer in their last five home matches, the team's longest run of home games without scoring multiple goals since six games from between July and September 2017.

Atlanta, meanwhile, have scored multiple goals in nine of their 18 regular-season meetings against this weekend's opponents. They have also lost just once when scoring multiple goals against D.C., though it was the last time the Five Stripes did so against D.C. in May 2024.

But they come into the game having lost three straight regular-season games for the second time this season and the eighth time in the club's history, all of which came in the last six seasons (2020-2025). The Five Stripes have never lost four consecutive league matches in their history.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

D.C. United – 36.9%

Draw – 26.3%

Atlanta United – 36.8%