After a 6-1 win last week against Atlanta United, the Columbus Crew remains at home this week. Real Salt Lake comes to town Lower.com Field for another battle.

Salt Lake currently sits in 10th place in the Western Conference. Real come to Columbus following a 4-0 loss against St. Louis City SC last weekend. Along with a daunting loss, the team also comes in with an extensive injury report. Starting fullback Brian Oviedo is out with an ankle injury and defender Marcelo Silva and forward Jefferson Savarino are questionable to play against the Crew.

Can the Black & Gold continue their good form against RSL? The Massive Report staff gives their predictions for this game.

Austin Mucchetti

Last weekend against Atlanta, the Black & Gold showed what they are capable of when things click in coach Wilfried Nancy’s system. Forward Christian Ramirez stole the show with two goals on his debut, while young players such as Aidan Morris, Jacen Russell-Rowe and Will Sands put in stand-out performances.

It will be interesting to see if the young core from the 6-1 demolition against Atlanta remains intact as Lucas Zelarayan, Milos Degenek and Eloy Room return from international duty. Real Salt Lake is coming off three consecutive losses and currently sits in 10th place in the Western Conference. I expect the Crew to win a second consecutive game. 

Columbus Crew 3 Real Salt Lake 1

Drew McDaniel

Real Salt Lake has not done well this season. Over the past two seasons, RSL has been known for hard work and thriving when no one believes in them, often grinding out games. The Crew is flying high on youth and hope after a huge win last week.

Many expect this to be another resounding victory after RSL gave up four goals last week. I believe RSL will make this more gritty and come out with more motivation after getting stomped. That being said, RSL has serious issues getting to goal and will not score a goal. Lucas Zelarayan will create some magic on a free kick, and Columbus will win. 

Columbus Crew 1 Real Salt Lake 0

Adam Miller

The Crew is coming in off an impressive performance against Atlanta United last week. After a 6-1 thrashing, I expect the Crew to continue the team’s winning ways against Real Salt Lake. The Black & Gold will still be a bit short-handed, but have proven last week they’ll have enough to get the job done. Christian Ramirez, Alex Matan and Jacen Russel- Rowe will score. 

Columbus Crew 3 Real Salt Lake 0

Caleb Denorme

This is a game that the Crew must get three points at home against Real Salt Lake. RSL sits in 10th place in the Western Conference with only one win and three losses. Even though the Black & Gold are still figuring things out tactically, coming off of an impressive victory against Atlanta United should spur them to victory. This squad must keep taking steps forward, and a loss or draw to RSL would be a bump in the road to where they want to be. I see Columbus getting a win. With the players on international duty back and a Lower.com Field crowd behind them, the Crew get the job done.

Columbus Crew 2 Real Salt Lake 0

Nathan Townsend

This feels like a game where the Crew, coming off the team’s offensive masterpiece against Atlanta United, come back to earth.  Real Salt Lake is a struggling team that Crew should be able to put away easily.  However, Salt Lake is going to bunker and force the Crew to break them down in tight spaces.

Because of all this, don’t be surprised if Columbus heads to the locker room tied at 0-0. A goal by center back Philip Quinton will break the deadlock around the 75^th minute and the Crew will survive some late pressure to hold on to win, that while not flashy, will keep all three points in Columbus.

Columbus Crew 1 Real Salt Lake 0

Collin Johnson

If I had remembered to send in my Atlanta United prediction in last week, it would have looked something like 2-0 Atlanta. Fortunately, I forgot and the Crew embarrassed Atlanta at Lower.com Field playing some of the best, most fun attacking soccer the team has played in quite a while.

Columbus should have some reinforcements back on Saturday but will also be faced with a desperate Real Salt Lake team, needing a result to keep the early season afloat. Salt Lake has managed to score three goals in the team’s first four matches and has overall looked like one of the weakest teams in the league. If the Black & Gold can stay hungry and motivated they should be able to keep their home record clean and grab their first clean sheet of the season. 

Columbus Crew 2 Real Salt Lake 0

Patrick Murphy

A 6-1 win last week was exciting for the Crew. But what’s the encore? That’s what the Black & Gold face on Saturday against Real Salt Lake at Lower.com Field. I don’t think anyone is expecting the same scoreline, but Columbus can’t afford a letdown against one of MLS’s struggling sides.

I’m curious what Wilfried Nancy will do for this game. Does he stick with what worked last week and rest some of the players coming back from international duty or does the head coach go back to mostly what he deployed over the first four weeks of the season?

It honestly shouldn’t matter too much as long as the Crew comes out with the same level of motivation as last week. An early goal should get things rocking at Lower.com Field.

Columbus Crew 3 Real Salt Lake 1

Grant Miller

After last week’s drubbing of Atlanta United, the Crew is riding high. That wave is set to crash into a Real Salt Lake team who has not won since the opening week against the Vancouver Whiteaps. Capitalizing on the current momentum could be huge for first-year coach Wilfried Nancy and his young squad. Anything less than a convincing three-point result puts the Black & Gold back on a path of uncertainty and frustration.

Columbus Crew 3 Real Salt Lake 0

Ryan Schmitt

The Crew just had arguably the team’s most impressive win as a team against Atlanta United and I don’t see the group slowing down. The most impressive part about it wasn’t even the scoreline, but the fact that nearly everybody on the field was 23 or youngere. Not only is that impressive on any level, but this is also Wilfried Nancy’s first season with the team. Being able to have a cohesive team with a super young player base is very encouraging. But on the even brighter side, Lucas Zelerayan, Eloy Room and Milos Degenek return from international duty to help strengthen the team some more.

Columbus Crew 3 Real Salt Lake 1

If you have a prediction for the game, let us know what it is in the comment section.