Two teams at opposite ends of the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference table will meet on Saturday as Columbus Crew host the current league leaders ...
Atlanta will also be missing several players due to international duty as Derrick Etienne, Luis Abram, Machop Chol, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Ronald Hernandez, Thiago Almada and Miles Robinson have all been called up to their respective countries. Atlanta United have not lost a single game all season out of the four they have played thus far, which has led to them being at the top of the Eastern Conference. Crew will also be without several players due to international duty as Milos Degenek, Eloy Room and Lucas Zelarayan have all been called up by their respective countries. Columbus Crew have had a mixed bag of results to start the season with one victory, one draw, and two losses thus far. [Watch every Major League Soccer match, including the playoffs. Nagbe, Morris, J.
As the Crew prepare to host Atlanta United, missing several key players from the lineup, here's what to watch for in the matchup.
Degenek is with Australia for two friendlies against Ecuador, and that leaves a deficit of experience in the heart of the Crew's defense. "Miloš is an integral part to that defense and the philosophy we play," wingback Will Sands said. "However, I think everyone here has full confidence in the players that can and will step in. Columbus 1, Atlanta 1: In a game with this much lineup uncertainty, both teams will spend large portions of the first half feeling each other out. Of the three, Degenek is the only one with significant professional experience at center back; Quinton's first professional season was last year with Crew 2, and Moreira I don’t know if I’m going to stay with a back three or a back two. If they keep the same setup on Saturday, there's a gap next to Matan in the lineup, without an obvious choice to fill it. Forward Christian Ramirez is available for the first time since joining the Crew in January. For the first three games, prior to Hernandez's injury, the Crew played with two attacking midfielders — Zelarayan and Alex Matan — beneath the striker. But this is an injury in the knee. He was a late scratch from the lineup Saturday against the New York Red Bulls with knee pain, and on Tuesday Hernandez announced he'll be out several weeks with a knee injury. There are no one-for-one swaps the Crew can make to seamlessly replace Zelarayan and Hernandez.
Analyzing Saturday's Columbus Crew vs. Atlanta United odds and lines, with expert MLS picks, predictions and best bets.
Plus, try out the [USA TODAY Parlay Calculator](https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/parlay-calculator?utm_source=sportsbookwire&utm_medium=text-link) and please [gamble responsibly](https://sportsbookwire.usatoday.com/bet-and-wager-101-responsible-gaming-and-gambling/). Atlanta United +170 (bet $100 to win $170) [Tipico Sportsbook’s](https://media.tipico.com/C.ashx?btag=a_94b_456c_columbus-crew-vs-atlanta-united-odds-picks-and-predictions&affid=47&siteid=94&adid=456&c=columbus-crew-vs-atlanta-united-odds-picks-and-predictions-pos1) lines around the Columbus Crew vs. The pace of this match with Atlanta’s top defense combined with the inconsistent Columbus defense will allow for many opportunities to find the back of the net. - Moneyline: Columbus Crew +165 (bet $100 to win $165) [SportsbookWire.com](https://sportsbookwire.usatoday.com/) and [BetFTW](https://ftw.usatoday.com/betftw). With a +8 goal differential this season, it far outweighs the Crew’s -2 goal differential. The Columbus Crew (1 win, 1 loss, 1 draw) welcome Atlanta United (2-0-1) to Lower.com Field on Saturday night with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Astonishingly, 4 of the 6 goals in the match came in the 45th minute, 1 before half and 3 after. ET (Apple TV). [Moneyline](https://sportsbookwire.usatoday.com/2019/07/08/betting-101-what-is-a-moneyline-bet-in-sports-betting/) (ML) They took a 1-0 lead into halftime after a 33rd-minute goal from Alexandru Matan but relinquished their lead immediately after half giving up a 45th-minute equalizer.
However, since MLS plays through the international playing window, both teams will be without key players. The Crew will miss midfielder Lucas Zelerayan, ...
Given Atlanta’s form, and the Black & Gold’s form, I think it’ll end in a loss. The good news is that Atlanta is also missing a lot of key pieces and will also probably struggle to get into a groove on the attack. It’s hard to find a lot of positivity when it comes to this game if you’re the Crew. Without Milos Degenek, Eloy Room, Lucas Zelarayan, Cucho Hernandez and other, I think the Crew will struggle to find a groove in possession. I see this being a tough match for the Crew. Atlanta is coming off a 5-1 win against the
The international break comes crashing into the Five Stripes as they try to keep their unbeaten run going without seven first team players.
One way or another, that’s going to change over the next few weeks, as Gonzalo Pineda’s men play five of their next seven on the road, including Columbus, both New York teams, Toronto, and Nashville. Starting keeper Eloy Room, starting CB Miloš Degenek, and the key cog to the Crew’s attacking hopes, Lucas Zelarayan, are all away on international duty, while striker Cucho Hernandez missed last week with an injury. If the Five Stripes really are back, we’ll see it over the next 7 games. As is custom, MLS will keep playing hand in hand with the international games, leaving both Atlanta and its Matchday 5 rivals, the [Columbus Crew](https://www.massivereport.com), undermanned and devoid of their star players. That’s apparent on the pitch as Columbus has fallen on the road to Philadelphia and the Red Bulls but beaten Nancy is no stranger to working with limited resources and finding results, so Columbus is betting big on his ability to develop youngsters.
The 5-Stripes travel to Ohio to take on Columbus Crew on Saturday, March 25.
Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United) – The Homegrown has had an excellent start to the season for Atlanta United. Columbus has won five of the last seven meetings with Atlanta United, a reversal of the first seven meetings between the two sides. One of those is Alexandru Matan, the attacking midfielder out of Romania who scored from deep in the club's 2-1 loss to New York Red Bulls. Wiley has recorded one goal and one assist in each of Atlanta's last two matches against Portland Timbers and Charlotte FC, and he's currently the club's second leading goal scorer on the year behind Almada. Matan has one goal and one assist on the season for the Crew, and will be looking to attack and create even more chances in Zelarayán's absence. [Thiago Almada](https://www.atlutd.com/players/thiago-almada/), who was called up to the Argentina men's national team. The 5-Stripes are unbeaten and have earned 10 points in four matches to climb to the top of the Eastern conference. United and played Toronto FC to a draw before dropping their second match of the season on the road. Atlanta holds a 5-6-1 all-time record against Columbus in MLS regular season play. Both sides will also be without their master free kick takers in Thiago Almada for Atlanta and midfielder Lucas Zelarayán for Columbus. [Making the trip to our next match in Columbus? Columbus has had a mix of results in the first four matches.
Sportsmemo soccer handicapper Nick Borrman gives his prediction and picks for this Columbus Crew vs Atlanta United MLS match before start time at 7:30pm ET.
Atlanta has come flying out of the gates this season with three wins and a draw and sit atop the Eastern Conference. On the other side, Columbus is also missing three key players. Not familiar with all the wagering options, such as three-way betting and the Asian handicap? We are in the middle of the international break. So, it only makes sense to look to back Atlanta or perhaps look to back goals in this match, right? What stats should a novice soccer bettor focus on? Their 1.75 xG per match also ranks 3rd in the league. Carmine Bianco and Nick Borrman joined Kelly Stewart to share some tips to novice soccer bettors. New to betting on soccer? Are you subscribed to WagerTalk TV? If not, what are you waiting for?! [Click here to select your picks](https://www.wagertalk.com/picks) and then apply the best bargain of 2023 with coupon code NEWS1.
A brace by Christian Ramirez and the first career goals by Aidan Morris, Philip Quinton and Max Arfsten helped shorthanded host Columbus to a 6-1 win ...
national team defender [Miles Robinson](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/249768/Miles-Robinson). Also, defender [Andrew Gutman](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/245068/Andrew-Gutman) was forced to leave in the 45th minute with an injury. [Eloy Room](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/127444/Eloy-Room), playmaker [Lucas Zelarayan](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/172267/Lucas-Zelarayán) and defender [Milos Degenek](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/159502/Milos-Degenek), who played for [Australia](/soccer/team?id=628) in the 2022 [World Cup](/soccer/league/_/name/FIFA.WORLD), were absent, as was injured striker [Cucho Hernandez](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/336809/Cucho-Hernández) (knee). [Patrick Schulte](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/275080/Patrick-Schulte). [Alexandru Matan](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/239736/Alexandru-Matan)'s shot from the edge of the penalty area skimmed the right foot of Atlanta's [Santiago Sosa](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/271473/Santiago-Sosa) and popped in the air to Morris. [Thiago Almada](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/277208/Thiago-Almada), who leads the league with four goals and is tied for the lead with four assists; former Crew forward [Derrick Etienne Jr.](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/231098/Derrick-Etienne-Jr.); and U.S. [Brooks Lennon](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/252778/Brooks-Lennon) scored in the 71st minute for Atlanta (3-1-1, 10 points) to make it 5-1, before Arfsten tallied in the first minute of stoppage time in his [MLS](/soccer/league/_/name/USA.1) debut. [Christian Ramirez](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/235061/Christian-Ramirez) and the first career goals by [Aidan Morris](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/293826/Aidan-Morris), [Philip Quinton](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/294874/Philip-Quinton) and Max Arfsten helped shorthanded host Columbus to a 6-1 win against depleted Atlanta United on Saturday. The Crew (2-2-1, 7 points) led 1-0 at the half on Morris' goal in the 14th minute before exploding in the second half for goals by Ramirez (47th and 64th minutes), Quinton (51st) and Jacen Russell-Rowe (68th). [Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)](/espnplus/schedule/_/type/upcoming/categoryId/119cfa41-71d4-39bf-a790-6273a52b0259/channel/ESPN_PLUS)
The Columbus Crew (1 win, 1 loss, 1 draw) welcome Atlanta United (2-0-1) to Lower.com Field on Saturday night with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (Apple ...
Astonishingly, 4 of the 6 goals in the match came in the 45th minute, 1 before half and 3 after. [Tipico Sportsbook's](https://media.tipico.com/C.ashx?btag=a_94b_456c_+++SLUG+++&affid=47&siteid=94&adid=456&c=+++SLUG+++-pos1) lines around the Columbus Crew vs. The Columbus Crew (1 win, 1 loss, 1 draw) welcome Atlanta United (2-0-1) to Lower.com Field on Saturday night with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The Crew's six-goal performance against Atlanta was the team's first game with five goals or more since Oct. 25, 2015 against D.C. United.
Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte punched away Araújo’s only true shot attempt off a leading pass from Miguel Berry in the first half. Four minutes later, Quinton connected on his first MLS goal on a header off a Alexandru Matan corner to secure the Crew’s first three-goal game of the season. Matan lasered the ball through two Atlanta defenders and Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe to Morris, who lunged forward for the header and the score.
First half - Noah Cobb makes his MLS debut, Columbus Crew opens the scoring ... Seven players were unavailable for Atlanta United head coach Gonzalo Pineda due to ...
The goal was Lennon's first of the season and Atlanta United's first of the night. The 5-Stripes appeared to score their second goal of the night in the 82rd minute. The home team capped off the rout with another goal in the 91st minute. At the end of the first half, Atlanta United was still without its first shot of the match but trailed by just one goal. Then, in the 64th minute Ramírez scored his second for his brace. Four minutes later, Russell-Rowe got in on the scoring to make it 5-0 for the home team. After dealing with a hamstring injury the past few weeks, this match marked Rossetto's first appearance since March 4 against Toronto FC. The crafty midfielder carried the ball then crossed it low into the center of the box. The 5-Stripes conceded six goals and lost their first MLS match of the 2023 campaign 6-1, thus ending the team's unbeaten streak to start the season. In the final minutes of the first half, Atlanta United fullback Andrew Gutman left the match after going down on the pitch. Atlanta's goalkeeper played the ball short to midfielder Franco Ibarra centrally. The match marked the MLS debut for Cobb, the 17-year-old Homegrown center back.
The Crew are coming off a 2-1 loss on the road against the New York Red Bulls. They took a 1-0 lead into halftime after a 33rd-minute goal from Alexandru Matan ...
Astonishingly, 4 of the 6 goals in the match came in the 45th minute, 1 before half and 3 after. [Tipico Sportsbook's](https://media.tipico.com/C.ashx?btag=a_94b_456c_+++SLUG+++&affid=47&siteid=94&adid=456&c=+++SLUG+++-pos1) lines around the Columbus Crew vs. The Columbus Crew (1 win, 1 loss, 1 draw) welcome Atlanta United (2-0-1) to Lower.com Field on Saturday night with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.