The Columbus Crew will host Atlanta United in the final match of the best-of-three series in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs. The Black & Gold won the first match at home 2-0 and United won in Atlanta 4-2.

Defender Sean Zawadzki left the last match with a thigh injury. Zawadzki challenged forward Giorgos Giakoumakis in the 61st minute. The Atlanta forward won the challenge and played the ball to winger Xande Silva, who put the ball over an open net from the six-yard box. Defender Will Sands remains injured while recovering from an ACL injury.

Here is how we predict Columbus will line up:

Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte will hope Columbus’ home form will continue, In the last game at Lower.com Field, the Five Stripes registered one shot and no shots on goal. Any other match the Crew plays in this postseason is win or be go home. Schulte can build on a positive performance in this match if the Black & Gold advance to take on Orlando City SC.

With Zawadzki facing uncertainty in this match, it is no mystery how Columbus will likely lineup. Defenders Malte Amundsen, Rudy Camacho and Steven Moreira will be the center backs. Giakoumakis was a menace to the Crew backline in Atlanta and his performance last match should be a wake-up call to the defense around the penalty area. 

Wing back Yaw Yeboah will start with Amundsen in the back three. Wing back Julian Gressel will start as the right wing back. The Crew need production and creativity from the wing backs offensively, but equally important will be awareness from the wing back along with the midfielders to prevent transition moments. 

Midfielders Aidan Morris and Darlington Nagbe will be critical to keeping possession and limiting transition moments, which devastated the Black & Gold on the road. Nagbe is out of contract after this season and this could be his last game for Columbus. 

Head coach Wilfried Nancy favors the attacking lineup with Alexandru Matan over forward Christian Ramirez. Matan adds more in keeping possession than Ramirez, although Matan will attempt more risky dribbles and often lose possession on the dribble more than Ramirez. Nancy will likely continue to utilize the front three of Matan alongside forwards Cucho Hernandez and Diego Rossi.