Atlantis vs HPS - Kakkonen - Lohko A

There is a notable edge to this Kakkonen - Lohko A fixture. When Atlantis meet HPS at the home ground on September 19, 2026, both will sense an opportunity to land a telling blow. That coronation came from City's £116m summer signing Elliot Anderson - and has been hotly debated in the build-up to the Manchester derby Super Sunday showdown at Old Trafford, which you can watch live on Sky Sports.

Atlantis head into the contest positioned 3rd in the Kakkonen - Lohko A standings, while HPS arrive sitting 5th. The hosts have been steady if unspectacular, WWWDW in their last five reflecting a win rate of 55.56%. The visitors have been a mixed bag on the road, LLDDL in their last five and a win rate of 38.89% reflecting their unpredictability. Their respective approaches this season have differed noticeably, and the tactical contrast could prove telling. That was the 3-2 loss to Manchester United in January of this year, which ended a 121-match run without letting in three goals.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Atlantis will look to impose their style on home soil, while HPS are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. It meant City had a three-man defence of Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov and Ruben Dias when in possession.

Individual moments of quality could tip the balance. Both sides possess players capable of producing something out of nothing, and a single flash of brilliance may be all that separates them. Discipline at the back and sharpness in front of goal will likely tilt the balance one way or the other. Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest applauds the fans as he warms up prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Nottingham Forest(Image: Getty) United are reportedly eyeing a move for Brentford striker Igor Thiago this summer.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. Backed by home advantage and superior form, Atlantis ought to prevail — a 3-2 victory looks the logical call. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Kakkonen - Lohko A standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. In terms of outgoings, Perri seems closest to an exit, but that will likely have to wait until Trafford's mandated holiday after the World Cup is over or a No 2 arrives.