Columbus Crew are set to welcome Atlanta United to Lower.com Field for game one in a best-of-three series in MLS Cup playoffs on November 1.
The Five Stripes caught fire after Leagues Cup but were unable to steal a fourth place finish by failing to win any of their final three games of the regular season against the Crew, Philadelphia Union and FC Cincinnati. Atlanta trudged to a sixth place finish in the Eastern Conference and will be without star Thiago Almada, who was sent off in the second half against Cincinnati on Decision Day.
The Crew capped off their campaign by winning two of their last three contests that includes victories over the Revs and CF Montreal. The stellar play of Cucho Hernandez guided Columbus to a third place finish in the East, and they’ll look to keep that momentum going in front of their supporters.
Columbus Crew vs Atlanta United H2H record
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Country |
TV Channel / Live Stream |
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United States |
Apple TV – MLS Season Pass, FS1, FS2 |
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United Kingdom |
Apple TV – MLS Season Pass |
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Canada |
Apple TV + |
Crew boss Wilfried Nancy confirmed on Monday that Diego Rossi has recovered from his thigh injury and is set to feature against Atlanta. Rossi joined Columbus earlier this summer from Turkish side Fenerbahce to fill the void that Lucas Zelarayan left when he joined Saudi Pro League’s Al Fateh.
Columbus Crew predicted lineup vs Atlanta United (3-4-2-1): Schulte; Moreria, Camacho Amundsen; Gressel, Nagbe, Morris, Yeboah; Matan, Rossi; Hernandez.
The Five Stripes will be without Almada, as a mindless off-the-ball challenge against Cincinnati saw him receive a second yellow card and sending off. The 22-year-old will be back in the mix for Atlanta for game two at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 7.
Atlanta United predicted lineup vs Columbus Crew (4-2-3-1): Guzan; Lennon, Robinson, Abram, Wiley; Muyumba, Rossetto; Mosquera, Lobjanidze, Silva; Giakoumakis.
The Crew were slight favorites to come out as victors in game one against Atlanta’s full-strength XI, but now that the visitors are without their best player, they’ll expect to come away from the game with the series lead.
Almada has been at the center of everything for Atlanta in 2023, scoring 11 goals and dishing out an MLS-best 19 assists, and it’ll be interesting to see how Gonzalo Pineda’s side cope without their Argentinian magician. It’ll be a comfortable win for the Crew with Hernandez and Rossi getting on the scoresheet at Lower.com Field.
Prediction: Columbus Crew 2-0 Atlanta United
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