Starting XI and roster notes: Stian Gregersen, Alexey Miranchuk tabbed for 50th starts for 5-Stripes

It's a double milestone day: Stian Gregersen and Alexey Miranchuk are both in line to start their 50th match for Atlanta United. The two will lead the defense and attack for the 5-Stripes as they take on D.C. United Saturday night. Kickoff is just an hour away at 7:30 p.m. ET, and Atlanta United will debut the Spirit of '96 community kit. 

Gregersen spoke at media availability this week about the work he put in over the offseason to improve his fitness, and we're seeing the fruits of his labor. He'll hope for another full 90 minutes, leading the Atlanta United defense with physicality and aerial command. 

Joining Gregersen in the backline is the same unit as last time out — Elías Báez, Enea Mihaj and Tomás Jacob — with Lucas Hoyos in goal. 

In fact, it's not just the backline that's got continuity, it's the rest of the squad. Martino's XI is the exact same as last Saturday against Philadelphia. Matías Galarza, Tristan Muyumba and Cooper Sanchez anchor a fluid midfield with plenty of tenacity. 

Up front, Miranchuk's milestone start will be alongside Emmanuel Latte Lath and captain Miguel Almirón. It's a front three that showed just how dangerous it can be against Philadelphia, leading to 3 goals and, more importantly, 3 points. But a result against D.C. United will have to be taken, not given.  

Here's the full starting XI for Atlanta United vs D.C. United:

Lucas Hoyos, Tomás Jacob, Stian Gregersen, Enea Mihaj, Elías Báez, Tristan Muyumba, Matías Galarza, Cooper Sanchez, Alexey Miranchuk, Miguel Almirón (C), Emmanuel Latte Lath

Reserves: Jayden Hibbert, Ronald Hernández, Pedro Amador, Matt Edwards, Steven Alzate, Fafa Picault, Cayman Togashi, Luke Brennan, Saba Lobjanidze

Roster Notes:

-- Stian Gregersen makes another start after his debut last Saturday, also his 50th in his Atlanta United career. He and Miranchuk become the 29th and 30th players in club history to hit half a century of starts. 

-- Gregersen tied the club’s single-match record with 17 clearances last weekend against Philadelphia. The only other ATL player to have that many clearances in a single match is Michael Parkhurst (March 31, 2018 vs Minnesota). 

-- Alexey Miranchuk leads the lines for the 5-Stripes in his third consecutive start and his 50th in all competitions for Atlanta United. He scored the third goal for the 5-Stripes in their previous match, marking the third time in his career that he scored in consecutive matches. 

-- Cooper Sanchez starts for a fifth consecutive match. The 17-year-old Homegrown midfielder became the youngest Atlanta United player to start a season opener in club history Feb. 21 when he featured in the midfielder against FC Cincinnati. He's now the 15th player in league history to start his club's first five matches of the season at 17 years old.

-- Miguel Almirón enters the match fresh off breaking the club's career assists record. He had a hattrick of assists last time out against Philadelphia Union March 14, putting him alone with 38 in his two stints with Atlanta United. 

-- Tomás Jacob starts again, filling in the right back role just as he's done in the last two matches. Jacob ranks 4th in all of MLS in Duels Won with 31 on the season so far. 

-- Atlanta United have an all-time record of 10-7-3 (W-L-D) against D.C. United. The 5-Stripes have scored 3 or more goals in five of their last nine against their fellow United.