One. More. Day.
Just one more day until the very first Atlanta United matchday of 2024 as the team goes to Lower.com Field to take on the Columbus Crew. It’s been a long wait since the Five Stripes’ bitter playoff exit at this same venue in November, but now they’re back.
It won’t be an easy game by any means, Columbus went on to defeat LAFC in the 2023 MLS Cup final and claimed its historic third league title. Most of the trophy-lifting squad stuck around including top scorer Juan Camilo “Cucho” Hernandez, top assister Alexandru Măţan and the dynamic midfield duo of Darlington Nagbe and Aidan Morris.
Players to Watch
The Crew’s top scorers of 2023 were Hernández (24 g, 10 a), Christian Ramirez (13 g, 5 a) and Lucas Zelarayán (11 g, 6 a) – who departed the team last summer. Zelarayán’s replacement, 2020 MLS Golden Boot winner Diego Rossi, is preparing for his first full MLS season since leaving LAFC in Sept. 2021. The Uruguayan forward recorded five goals and six assists in 1352 minutes with the Crew last season.
Columbus’ top assisters last year were Măţan (3 g, 11 a), Hernández and Rossi (5 g, 6 a).
New players to watch for the Black and Gold include Colombian winger Marino Hinestroza, 21, who scored a goal and an assist in just under 700 minutes for Pachuca during Liga MX’s Apertura in the fall, Ghanaian midfielder Derrick Jones, 26, signed from free agency and homegrown signing Taha Habroune, 17, who led Crew 2 to its second consecutive MLS NEXT Pro Cup.
Atlanta United vs Columbus Crew 2023 Stat Comparison
The History
The Ohio side leads the all-time series against Atlanta in MLS with a 7-4-2 record. Last year saw the Five Stripes pay three forgettable visits to Lower.com Field where they were outscored 12-3. Atlanta’s only victory in the Crew’s current stadium was on Aug. 7, 2021 in a game that ended 3-2.
Availability Reports
Columbus Crew: None
Atlanta United: OUT РJamal Thiar̩ (concussion protocol), Edwin Mosquera (left groin), Derrick Etienne Jr. (left ankle)
Predicted Lineups
Columbus Crew Predicted XI:
Atlanta United Predicted XI:
*Updated because Henry’s an idiot and forgot about Gregersen. Please forgive me, Stian. Norwegians are awesome.
Score Predictions
Sydney: 3-2 Columbus
Tommy: 4-2 Columbus
Tyler: 2-2
Grey: 2-2
Henry: 3-2 Atlanta
Jackson: 3-2 Columbus
What are your score predictions for this match? Who do you think will score? Let us know in the comments below!
Snow day on the pitch !
Just realized I was supposed to give you my scoreline prediction, wasn’t I? 🤦
Not too late!
lol okay 2-2
Boooooo give me something original!!! If you’re predicting a draw at least make it crazy… 4-4 or something!
1-1 sound better now?
[…] Match Preview: Atlanta United at Columbus Crew […]
We have 3 new players in the core that have had all of preseason to gel with the rest of the team, which was not impressive, that had 3 new players jump in at the summer to go on the road against the champion who is essentially unchanged… yeah this is going to be brutal. 4-1 bad guys.
My hope is 2-2
Nice new look!!
Gotta put on our matchday best 👔
Columbus 3-2
Hmmm. I’m logged in and still show as anon.
Trying from Jetpack
When I do a like, it recognizes me, and throws me out to the next tab. Weird behavior by WordPress.
WordPress is a bit weird. We’re trying to work on making some of this a little easier.
Checking here as well. Can’t see to stay logged in…
Well worked this time…
Now I am wondering if I am logged in. I don’t even see how to.
Edit: Didn’t work.
2-2
Is Cohen expected to start, or is that projection on who should start? Heard on the radio this morning that supposedly Brad is the starter until he shows he’s not.
Just my personal prediction. There’s really no good way to know which will get the nod until official lineups drop.
Though I’d love to see Cohen, I agree that it is Brad’s job to lose and think that is the way it should be.
This is a concern…imho he’s already shown he’s no longer a solid starter. Not sure what else needs to happen. And I say this with much respect for Guzan. Seems worse for him to be benched midseason as the result of a meltdown than just transitioned…kind of setting him up for embarrassment.
Gregersen is the DP, not Slisz. Little bit surprising!
I just saw that. So looks like DP slot moved from Saba to Gregersen, though of course they’re all TAM range. I’m assuming kinda similar to when Alan Franco was DP for a few months.
I had $50milliom Garberbucks from the dirty south soccer website. Can I transfer those to this website?
Exchange rate is kind of steep so we’ll get back to you on that
That’s only worth like 10 Stanley Nickels.
I love how all over the place some of our player numbers are.
Interesting you guys have WIlliams starting over Greg. I know he’s had a great preseason but would have expected Will and Greg instead of Will and Ahbram.
Ok I’m gonna be honest I meant to put Gregersen where Abram is. I have no idea how I screwed that up. I’ll go back later and fix it. But yes, I believe the starting pairing will be Williams and Gregersen.
Yeah I thought that was funky
This was me….I couldn’t figure out how to sign in
Yeah, I would think Gregersen starts…Williams and Gregersen is defn plausible.
Can we confirm Thiago is back with the team and ready to start?
Almada was training with the team this week. He should be good to go