Mar 31, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Atlanta United midfielder Julian Gressel (24) shoots the ball against the Seattle Sounders during the first half at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta United traveled across the country to begin their four game road trip at the home of the 2016 MLS Cup Champion Seattle Sounders.

Despite key injuries and concern of player fatigue from the international break, the Five Stripes managed to earn a hard-fought draw on the road. This game was a defensive showdown. Both teams were able to move the ball and create opportunities, but it was the stellar defenses that dominated the game and kept either team from scoring.

Here are the highlights from Friday’s matchup:

Although no points were scored, there were plenty of lessons to be learned for Atlanta’s fans. Here are some of the biggest takeaways from the match for Atlanta United.

1. Atlanta United should not just compete for a playoff spot in their first season, they should be considered contenders for the MLS Cup.

Anytime a new expansion team comes into the league, most fans and analysts expect that it will take some time for the team to find their form. Atlanta continues to defy those expectations and after the first month they sit in second place in the eastern conference, and had they played as many games as conference-leading Columbus Crew SC, it is conceivable that they would be in first place.

Through their first four games, Atlanta United has proven they can compete with the best teams in the league. They took last year’s regular season eastern conference leaders to the limit before conceding two late goals in their first ever game. This week, they earned a draw on the road against the reigning champions. In their other two games, they won by a combined score of 10-1.

The next three weeks should shine a ton of light on Atlanta’s prospects, especially next week as they take on last year’s Eastern Conference Champion, Toronto FC.

2. The lineup puzzle needs work when any of the starters have to sit out.

The biggest concern coming into this week’s game was the loss of Atlanta’s leading goal scorer Josef Martinez. On top of that injury, the three other players returning from international duty started on the bench.

Miguel Almiron and Carlos Carmona have been starters for this team all year. Kenwyne Jones was the most likely replacement for Martinez after his injury. So having these three on the bench to start the game created tremendous lineup issues.

The question was how strong would Atlanta’s depth be? Considering the result, their depth appears to be more than capable of filling in when starters go down. But things were not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.

The midfield looked less than stellar in this match. Jeff Larentowicz is a serviceable backup, but Chris McCann, a player many United fans thought would be a starter before the season, looked tremendously lackluster in this game.

Tito Villalba was okay in the striker role, but he definitely seems more comfortable on the right wing. One possible solution may be to move Yamil Asad into the striker role and slot Jacob Peterson on the left. Or, perhaps the most interesting solution would be to slot Julian Gressel up top, a position he played in college.

The good news for the Five Stripes is that Almiron, Carmona, and Jones will not have to start on the bench over the next few weeks as the team presses forward without Martinez.

3. #GresselMania is running WILD…

Many raised eyebrows when Julian Gressel was selected with the 8th overall pick in this year’s SuperDraft. But this move, like so many that have been made by Atlanta United’s front office, is proving to be ingenious.

Gressel has not been perfect. Who could expect any rookie to be? But through the first month of the season, Gressel has been the shining star of this signing class. He has been a dominant member of Atlanta’s midfield. And, he has the best nickname on the team.

GresselMania is alive and well. This man is going to be a force to be reckoned with all season. Can you say Rookie of the Year?