Seattle Sounders vs Atlanta United; Nashville vs Austin; Orlando vs Toronto and more to kick off MLS MD 6

Topics: TV SCHEDULES, MLS, INTER MIAMI, LA GALAXY, LA FC, PHILADELPHIA UNION, AUSTIN FC, COLUMBUS CREW SC, ATLANTA UNITED, TORONTO FC, NYC FC, NEW YORK RED BULLS

The 2021 MLS season continues to heat up with plenty of big fixtures this weekend, including Orlando vs Toronto, Seattle vs Atalanta, and more to kick off matchday six.

Matchday five brought plenty of interesting results, including Inter Miami securing three points after a five goal thriller with Cincinnati, and Seattle Sounders continuing their excellent start to the season thanks to a 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC. Meanwhile, New England sit on top of the Eastern Conference despite not having the highest scoring outfit while the various debutant sides are enduring varying fortunes so far in their first seasons in the top flight.

Let's have a look at what's in store over this upcoming weekend.

Key headlines - MLS matchday six

Can Seattle Sounders maintain their unbeaten start to the season as they take on Atlanta United?

The Sounders have raced into an early lead on top of the Western Conference. Thanks to five wins an a draw so far, the 2020 MLS Cup winners sit four points clear of the chasing pack. Brian Schmetzer's side didn't get to take part in a pre-season due to COVID-19 and other complications, but despite this, and missing first-choice shot-stopper Stefan Frei due to a knee injury, they've started the current campaign off brightly and will be fancying their chances against their upcoming visitors.

Atlanta United, meanwhile, have struggled for consistency. They look a far cry from the side who swept aside the competition under Gerardo "Tata" Martino to win the MLS Cup in 2018, and Josef Martinez, who was the MLS MVP during that season, has only scored once so far in 2021. New manager Gabriel Heinze has quite a bit of work to do, but still, Atlanta are a much improved side from 2020, which saw them finish 23rd overall in MLS and 12th in the Eastern Conference.

Orlando City's Nani suspended for two games

The experienced veteran has now been banned for two games and fined after getting physical with a referee. It's a major blow for the Lions as Nani will now miss out on Orlando City's next two games, which will see them take on Toronto FC on May 22nd and then the New York Red Bulls on May 29th. As things stand, Orlando are second in the Eastern Conference, just two points behind conference leaders New England - and they're still unbeaten so far this season.

Nashville still unbeaten, too - could they be a surprise package this season?

While all the focus is on Seattle Sounders and Orlando City, there's a third team who are also still unbeaten so far this season: Nashville. Probably because they're drawn pretty much all of their games, save one, and sit in the middle of the table. But unbeaten is unbeaten, regardless, and for a team founded just three years ago, they've done quite well. Last season saw Nashville do pretty solidly, finishing 14th in MLS and seventh in the Eastern Conference, while they made it to their conference semi-finals in the play-offs.

It's probably a bridge too far to expect them to actually challenge for the MLS Cup, but then again, some amazing things have happened in football around the world. Just look at Leicester City winning the Premier League title, or Greece winning EURO 2004, so Nashville just may be capable of some big things this season in MLS.

MLS matchday six rankings

Here's how the teams in the Eastern conference look ahead of matchday six:

Here's how the teams in the Western conference look ahead of matchday six:

MLS matchday six - Key stats

Top goalscorer: Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, LA Galaxy - 7

Top assist-maker: Fabio Gomes Netto, New York Red Bulls - 4

Most clean sheets: Pedro Gallese, Orlando City - 3

Most team goals: Seattle Sounders - 13

Most team assists: Seattle Sounders - 13