Columbus Crew SC visits Atlanta United FC at 7 p.m. on Saturday night in the two clubs' first-ever competitive meeting. Columbus unleashed a Federico Higuain brace on the MLS-expansion side in the Carolina Challenge Cup preseason tournament, winning 2-1 in February.
Before diving into the first match, check out our things to watch:
Feelin’ 22?
Charter Member #01 in Major League Soccer, Columbus Crew SC is set to face the 22nd club, Atlanta United FC, for their first of two official meetings during the 2017 regular season. The two clubs met once in February during the preseason Carolina Challenge Cup. One can probably expect the lineups to look a little different than they did en route to the Black & Gold's preseason trophy-winning tournament.
Welcome to Atlanta, Where the Playas’ Play
One player to keep an eye on is Josef Martinez, the lone goal scorer in the two team’s preseason meeting. Martinez, who is known for his speed and high-level technical ability, led Atlanta and the rest of the league in goals after an incredible start to the season where he netted five goals in Atlanta’s first three matches. After sustaining an injury in March while on international duty, Martinez has slowly made his way back on the field. He missed 10 matches, but finally made his official return to action last Saturday against the Chicago Fire, in which United fell 2-0. Martinez also secured the equalizer in Atlanta’s victory over the Charleston Battery in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match on Wednesday, in which United bounced back 3-2.
Set for Atlanta
The Black & Gold will come into Saturday’s match with an overall 7-8-1 record and sitting in the top half of the Eastern Conference. United come into the match with an overall 5-6-3 record, sitting below the red line in eighth place. Atlanta has lost its last two regular season meetings against the Vancouver Whitecaps (3-1) and then Chicago Fire (2-0). United has also failed to score off a set play this season and have given up four goals off of them. Their offensive set play expected goals value of 1.6 is the lowest in MLS, and their defensive value of 4.72 is the second highest – per Opta.
Columbus will next travel for a June 17 match in Atlanta against MLS-expansion side Atlanta United with a 7 p.m. ET kickoff.
Crew SC next plays the Montreal Impact at MAPFRE Stadium on Saturday, June 24 with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
Enjoy half-off select Budweiser and Bud Light (for supporters ages 21-and-over), Pepsi products, brats and pretzels through the 15th minute.*
*concession items subject to change
The Black & Gold welcome German Bundesliga-side and DFB Pokal-finalist Eintracht Frankfurt to MAPFRE Stadium for an international friendly on Monday, July 17. The match is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m.