Elche can hold the ball and work the flanks, but the key question is whether those entries reach a clear finish against Valencia's screen. Valencia have shown they can turn a regain into a direct chance. Atlanta have a clear route from their creators into Embolo against Toronto's central defence. Toronto can reply through wide service and late second balls, so the first goal will not settle that match.
Elche's Revivo and Lemar can move possession toward Niño or Valera, while Valencia's compact midfield can hold the centre and release Guerra, Raba or Rioja toward Danjuma. Elche's more recent Celta home game produced little accurate finishing, and Valencia's screen restricted Athletic. Diego López and Copete were already absent from Valencia's previous match, while Elliott played only briefly; the selection does not count those as newly lost full-match roles. This should leave Valencia with room to contain Elche's first spell and answer it. That's why I'm siding with Valencia.
Atlanta's Miranchuk and Almirón both played full minutes with Embolo at NYCFC and kept creating box entries despite the defeat. Toronto's Kuscevic and Gomis are available, but their unit conceded early first and second contacts at Columbus; Toronto's recent first halves have produced little clean finishing of their own. Toronto's missing Zimmerman and Franklin change the defensive rotation, while Atlanta's first supply remains in place. Atlanta can reach Embolo early and use Muyumba or another arrival on the next wave. That's why I'm siding with Atlanta.
