Columbus Crew vs Atlanta United Fc Prediction & Betting Tips - Major League Soccer

Prediction published on 22/02/2024, 14:48  by Joseph King | Modified on 22/02/2024 at 14:55 in Major League Soccer Predictions

The defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew kick off their 2024 season by welcoming Atlanta United to Lower.com Field on Saturday afternoon. The Crew claimed their third title and second in the last four seasons with their win over LAFC. They will now begin their campaign to become the first back-to-back champions since LA Galaxy pulled off the feat more than a decade ago. Columbus secured the third-seed in the Eastern Conference in 2023 with a record of 16 wins, nine draws and nine defeats. Columbus stormed to the title off the back of their superb home form which saw them register an impressive 15 wins in 20 total outings. They were also able to rack up a +32 goal differential at Lower.com Field (compared to -5 on the road) with 49 goals scored and only 17 conceded. Columbus saw all three of their preseason matches cancelled, leaving some question marks as to the players’ fitness ahead of the opener.

Atlanta will be seeking revenge after being knocked out of the MLS Cup Playoffs by the eventual champions last season. These two teams played out a few highly-entertaining matches as this matchup required all three games in Major League Soccer’s new ‘best of three’ first round playoff format. Atlanta would lose two of the three contests, with the last two each finishing with 4-2 scorelines (home win for Atlanta and a home win for Columbus). Atlanta had no problems in finding the net last season thanks to some of the league’s top attacking talent such as Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis. However, their undoing ultimately was their poor defense which conceded 53 goals in the regular season, the highest number of all 16 competing playoff teams.