Columbus Crew vs Atlanta United: MLS regular season match preview
Atlanta United
On the night of Sunday to Monday, May 25, 2026, “Lower.com Field” in Ohio will host a regular season MLS showdown as Columbus Crew welcome Atlanta United to their home turf. The opening whistle will sound at 23:00 Central European Time.
Team form
- Columbus Crew (13th place, 13 points): The Ohio club is enduring a tough spring campaign in the East (3 wins, 7 losses, 4 draws). Poor results led to the logical dismissal of head coach Henrik Rydström. Frenchman Laurent Courtois has stepped in as interim coach, making his debut midweek with a 1-0 US Open Cup quarterfinal victory over New York City – a result that should boost the team's confidence.
- Atlanta United (14th place, 11 points): Gerardo "Tata" Martino’s squad sits second from the bottom in the Conference. The Five Stripes are mired in a deep slump (just 3 wins in 13 rounds), and midweek saw their hopes for silverware dashed after an exit from the US Open Cup at the hands of Orlando City.
Tactical setup
Both teams enter this head-to-head with reshuffled lineups, but the internal atmosphere couldn’t be more different.
- Columbus tactics and personnel: Laurent Courtois is quickly trying to restore a dominant, possession-based style. Despite a season-ending injury to star striker Vahessam Abu Ali, the Crew are making the most of the partnership between Diego Rossi (5 goals) and Max Arfsten (4 goals + 4 assists). The emotional lift from the Cup win and Rydström’s departure could be the key driving force for the hosts.
- Atlanta tactics and personnel: Tata Martino’s 3-4-2 setup struggles on the road (just 1 win in 8 away MLS games). The situation is worsened by a serious injury to flanking leader Miguel Almirón. All creative responsibility now rests squarely on Aleksei Miranchuk.
Head-to-head factor
In the first-round clash this season, Columbus Crew confidently defeated Atlanta on their own turf, 3-1. Historically, “Lower.com Field” has been a tough destination for Georgia’s team: Columbus boasts 13 wins against 8 losses in Ohio. Additionally, both teams’ defensive lines are prone to errors, making a closed, low-scoring match highly unlikely.
Probable lineups
- Columbus Crew: Schulte - Farsi, Camacho, Zawadzki, Moreira - Picard, Gomes, Tidiany Bangoura, Arfsten - Rossi, Gazdag
- Atlanta: Hoyos - Jacob, Mihaj, Berrocal - Reilly, Muyumba, Báez, Fortune - Lobzhanidze, Galarza, Miranchuk
Prediction
The standings force both teams to play for nothing less than victory, which should result in open, end-to-end football. Under Laurent Courtois, Columbus Crew are eager to restore their dominant attacking style and will look to dictate play at home. However, defensive frailties mean the hosts will leave gaps at the back, which Atlanta’s counterattacking unit will surely seek to exploit. My prediction: Over 2.5 goals.
