By The Numbers presented by KDOT: #SKCvATL

"By The Numbers" is a season-long series sponsored by The Kansas Department of Transportation, giving a statistical preview of every Sporting KC match.
Traffic Safety... By The Numbers - Visit the Drive to Zero Coalition for more information

80   The average number of times that impaired drivers have driven under the influence before their first arrest.

Be safe and designated sober driver - Download the zTrip App

If you go by the numbers alone, Sunday's nationally televised showdown between Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City (9-4-9, 36 points) and explosive expansion side Atlanta United FC (10-7-4, 34 points) is a matchup of the league's best defense and offense, respectively. No team has conceded fewer goals than Sporting Kansas City, while no team has scored at a greater clip than Atlanta. That complexion makes for a can't-miss encounter when the sides meet for the first time at 7 p.m. CT on FS1 and FOX Deportes.

Tickets for the highly anticipated match are available at SeatGeek.com, with the first 5,000 fans through the gates receiving a camouflage cooler courtesy of match sponsor Dairy Farmers of America. Sunday's fixture is further headlined by Sporting Salutes, an immersive military appreciation night for servicemen and servicewomen throughout the United States. We take a statistical look at the marquee battle in our By The Numbers preview.

Atlanta United FC

• 2017 MLS record: 10-7-4, 34 points (2nd in East)
• 2017 MLS away record: 4-5-3 (19 GF, 17 GA)
• Last five games: 4-0-1, 13 points (W-W-W-W-T)
• Last MLS match: T 1-1 vs. Orlando City SC on July 29
• Atlanta leads MLS in total goals scored (41) and goals scored per game (1.95).
• Atlanta is tied for second in MLS with four road victories. Their 15 points collected away from home are third-most in the league.
• With 19 goals scored and 17 allowed away from home, Atlanta is one of three MLS teams (FC Dallas, LA Galaxy) with a positive road goal differential.
• Atlanta has failed to score in just two of its 21 MLS matches, tied for the lowest total in the league.
• Despite leading MLS in goals per game, Atlanta ranks just 17th in shots per game (11.8). Their 53.0 percent shooting accuracy is the best mark in MLS.
• Atlanta posted just two clean sheets in its first 16 games, but boasts three shutouts in its last five.
• Atlanta leads MLS in average possession at 58.1 percent.
• No team has collected more points in its last five MLS matches than Atlanta's 13 (four wins and one draw).
• MLS All-Star Miguel Almiron's 17 combined goals (eight) and assists (nine) are tied for fifth-most in MLS.
• Midfielder Hector Villalba has recorded 10 goals and four assists while starting all 21 MLS matches.
• Forward Josef Martinez has scored nine goals in as many MLS appearances during an injury-plagued season. His status is unknown for Sunday's match as he continues to recover from a foot contusion.
• Defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez leads MLS with 66 interceptions, six more than any other player. He has started all 21 MLS matches for the club.
• MLS All-Star defender Michael Parkhurst has also started all 21 league games and ranks ninth in MLS with 97 clearances.
• Midfielder Yamil Asad leads the team with 10 assists and ranks fifth in MLS with 136 duels won.

 Sporting KC

• 2017 MLS record:9-4-9, 36 points (1st in West)
• 2017 MLS home record: 7-0-4 (22 GF, 7 GA)
• Last five games: 2-0-3, 9 points (W-T-T-T-W)
• Last MLS match: W 3-2 vs. Chicago Fire on July 29
• SKC is unbeaten in 11 straight matches across all competitions since the beginning of June (6-0-5), including a 3-0-5 mark in MLS. The 11-game unbeaten run is the fourth-longest in club history.
• SKC is unbeaten in a club-record 20 straight regular season home matches dating back to June 2016. The 20-game run is the sixth-longest home unbeaten streak in MLS regular season history.
• SKC's eight-game unbeaten streak in MLS is the longest active streak in the league.
• SKC's 17 goals conceded and 0.77 goals against average are the lowest marks in MLS.
• SKC is second in MLS with 14.6 shots per game while facing a league-low 9.7 shots per game.
• SKC leads MLS in passes per game (510), successful passes per game (425) and passing accuracy (83.3) while ranking second in average possession (56.9).
• Tim Melia leads MLS in shutouts (nine), goals against average (0.77), penalty kick saves (three) and save percentage (79.8) among goalkeepers with at least three games played.
• Midfielder Ilie is second in MLS in both passes (1,542) and passes completed (1,317). He is the only Sporting KC field player to play every minute this season.
• Midfielder Benny Feilhaber is eighth in MLS with 50 chances created.

Milestones and Miscellany

• Sporting KC is 8-3-3 all-time in its inaugural regular season meetings with MLS expansion teams since 2005.

Team stats (2017 regular season)

MLS rank in parenthesis (source: Opta)