The Columbus Crew is flying, winning both of the team’s previous two games by a combined 10-1 margin. Continuing the 2023 MLS season, the Black & Gold head to the nation’s capital to face D.C. United on Saturday night.

Since the two teams first met in the second week of the season, D.C. has struggled, going 0-2-2. To try and help matters, United signed former Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien on a loan until the end of July.

Both teams come into this game with an extensive injury list. Columbus will once again be without winger Luis Diaz, forward Cucho Hernandez, midfielder Kevin Molino and center back Josh Williams, while goalkeeper Eloy Room is questionable. D.C. striker Nigel Robertha and defender Derrick Williams are out for this game, while midfielder Chris Durkin is questionable. All three players have played large roles for the team, with Durkin starting in all six of the previous games.

Can the Crew continue the team’s form on the road, where the Black & Gold are yet to win a game, against United? The Massive Report staff gives their predictions for the game.

Caleb Denorme

The Crew took care of business last time out against Wayne Rooney’s men and since then, Columbus has improved drastically. Every fan of the Black & Gold would love this squad to score four to six goals every game but that is probably not going to be the case. Nevertheless, the Crew is going to take care of business on the road and win this match. This team is absolutely flying right now on the back of two big wins, but going forward will have to continually prove that this is the form they are capable of and that the last two matches weren’t just a fluke.

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Adam Miller

The Crew hits the road after another dominant victory at home against Real Salt Lake last Saturday. The Crew is as hot as it gets over the last two matches with 10 total goals scored and only one against. The Black & Gold travel to take on D.C. United for the second time this year. D.C. hasn’t won since the opening week and has already fallen to Columbus this season. The Crew has struggled to get results on the road, but I think the team gets its first road victory in this match thanks to a Lucas Zelarayan and Christian Ramirez goal. 

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Collin Johnson

Before last Saturday’s dominant win against Real Salt Lake, the Crew hadn’t won back-to-back matches since 2021, more than a full calendar year ago. Columbus gets the chance to add to that streak with a trip to D.C. on Saturday. D.C. United isn’t in much better form than when the tea visited Lower.com Field a few weeks ago but is at home and should have a healthy(ish) Taxi Fountas to pair with Christian Benteke. Even with these two, the old rivals haven’t looked threatening. Meanwhile, the Black & Gold are still without Cucho Hernandez but haven’t missed a beat. It might be asking too much to have this depleted team grab a win on the road but three points in D.C. would be vital here in the early season. 

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Austin Mucchetti

Coming off of 6-1 and 4-0 demolitions of Atlanta United and Real Salt Lake, I expect the Crew to have another strong showing against D.C. United. In their previous meeting this season, the Black & Gold secured a 2-0 victory at Lower.com Field. It’s hard to think the Crew would lose its momentum, but the recent return of Taxi Fountas and the possible debut of Lewis O’Brien for United could make things difficult. 

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Nathan Townsend

So, I have to admit I was wrong last week. I thought the Crew would come back to Earth when it came to goal scoring, but Colummbus did anything but, putting fouor past Real Salt Lake. The Crew is on the road against a team the group dealt with handily at home and I don’t expect the goal-scoring way to decline this week. The Black & Gold will go back and forth with D.C. United, who had plenty of missed opportunities in the first game. Ultimately though, an Alexandru Matan winner in the second half will lift the Crew over United and keep the winning ways going. 

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Grant Miller

The Crew looks to keep the momentum going after a historic two-game home stretch. Road matches are never a walk in the park in MLS, but it feels like this is one the Crew should win if this team is to be taken seriously in the Eastern Conference. Columbus faced D.C. United a month ago in the home opener. Missing in that Black & Gold victory was United Designated Player Taxi Fuentes. Can Fuentes tilt the field to the Eagles’ advantage? The Crew midfield and backline have been impressive recently and I think they’ll shut down any movement the home team tries to get going as the Black & Gold attack continues to find goals from multiple places and Columbus bags three points on the road.

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Drew McDaniel

This will be an interesting early-season test from head coach Wilfried Nancy and how he tactically lines up against an opponent he has already faced. Unfortunately for D.C. United head coach Wayne Rooney, the Crew’s confidence is high and the players should be able to ride the momentum. D.C. will get a goal through brute physicality at home. Christian Bentke is a handful and while he might not score the goal, his physical presence will create an opening. The Crew will get two well-worked goals and Alexandru Matan and Lucas Zelarayan will link up for at least one goal. 

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Patrick Murphy

There is rightfully a lot of confidence within this Crew team right now, following consecutive impressive wins the last two weeks. But those two wins came in the friendly confines of Lower.com Field where the team is 3-0. On Saturday, the Black & Gold are back on the road where they have looked significantly less impressive this year.

The good news for Columbus is D.C. United is equally as poor right now as Atlanta United without its best players and Real Salt Lake. What gives me pause is D.C. has added to its team since the 2-0 win in the reverse fixture last month — Taxi Fountas is available again and Lewis O’Brien could make his first appearance — and is in desperate need of a win. I also don’t trust the Crew to play as well on the road, as young players tend to fluctuate their performances more than veterans.

With that said, I’m stilling picking the Black & Gold, but I don’t think it will be as easy as the last two games.

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Ryan Schmitt

The Crew has been flying high and fans loved the last two games. Head coach Wilfried Nancy has gotten the best out of the young players, which has been the most impressive part about this team so far season. This will be the second time the Black & Gold have played D.C. United and the first time was a 2-0 victory for Columbus. I don’t think that will change. This team has become more dynamic and every player on the pitch has proven to be able to score.

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