Atlanta United host Sporting Kansas City at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in their first game of the MLS 2022 season.The Five Stripes had a mixed campaign last year, ending up fifth in the Eastern Conference but losing out in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs and experiencing a quarter-final exit from the CONCACAF Champions League.Winds of change have blown over the side with some key players leaving and new additions being made to the squad for a fresh start.Sporting Kansas had a relatively better run in 2021, coming third in the regular season and reaching the semi-finals of the cup.Head coach Peter Vermes enters his 14th year at the helm of the club and is aiming for a first cup title since 2013.Atlanta United vs Sporting Kansas City Head-To-HeadAtlanta United convincingly won their last clash with Sporting Kansas City - a 3-0 victory in May 2019, following a 2-0 loss in the fixture just a year before that.Logan Ndenbe@Ndenbe22Ready for the start of the season 🏾 #LN18 #TrustTheProcess12:15 PM · Feb 25, 2022752Ready for the start of the season 🙏🏾✨ #LN18 #TrustTheProcess https://t.co/lmJkHhyKEOAtlanta United Form Guide (friendlies): W-W-WSporting Kansas City Form Guide (friendlies): D-L-DAtlanta United vs Sporting Kansas City Team NewsAtlanta UnitedEmerson Hyndman is the only concern for the Five Stripes ahead of their opening game of the season as he's currently nursing a torn ACL.Regular starters like George Bello, Anton Walkes and Ezequiel Barco have all left the club but they roped in Andrew Gutman, Ozzie Alonso, Thiago Almada, and Dom Dwyer during a busy off-season.Injured: Emerson HyndmanSuspended: NoneUnavailable: NoneAtlanta United FC@ATLUTDIt's all led to this.Matchday 6:47 AM · Feb 24, 202218210It's all led to this.Matchday 🔜‼️Sporting Kansas CityJaylin Lindsey has a hamstring problem, so he'll be assessed ahead of the clash.Alan Pulido sustained a nasty injury last season and doubts remain over his availability.However, Montenegro international Nikola Vujnovic has been brought in to fill in for Pulido.Injured: Jaylin Lindsey, Alan PulidoSuspended: NoneUnavailable: NoneAtlanta United vs Sporting Kansas City Predicted XIAtlanta United (4-3-3): Brad Guzan; Brooks Lennon, Alan Franco, Miles Robinson, Andrew Gutman; Matheus Rossetto, Osvaldo Alonso, Marcelino Moreno; Luiz Araujo, Jose Martinez, Jake Mulraney.Sporting Kansas City (4-3-3): Tim Melia; Graham Zusi, Andreu Fontas, Nicolas Isimat-Mirin, Ben Sweat; Remi Walter, Jose Mauri, Gadi Kinda; Johnny Russell, Khry Shelton, Daniel Salloi.Atlanta United vs Sporting Kansas City PredictionAlthough Sporting Kansas had a better campaign last year than Atlanta, there's no indication that they're going to win here.The opening matchdays are as open as they can get and we predict a tense but low-scoring draw here.Prediction: Atlanta United 1-1 Sporting Kansas City