The Columbus Crew host their intrastate rivals FC Cincinnati for the first meeting of the Hell is Real rivalry. Last season the Crew won two of the three matchups including a thrilling come-from-behind match in the Eastern Conference Final that punched the Black & Gold’s ticket to MLS Cup. Bragging rights are up for grabs this weekend in Columbus where the Black & Gold would like nothing more than to keep their in-state rivals in check for a bit longer.

There are only two injuries to note for the Crew, wingback Mo Farsi is out at least one more week. Farsi was stretchered off the field in Columbus’ last MLS fixture against Montreal, being out only a couple weeks seems like a good sign from a player carried off the field. Goalkeeper Evan Bush will also be out with a wrist injury. Farsi will be the only player missing from the starting XI that bested Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference Finals. It is worth noting that DP striker for Cincinnati, Aaron Boupenza, will miss this match due to an off-field incident that resulted in a broken jaw and will leave Boupenza sidelined for another couple of months. 

Here is how Columbus could lineup:

Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte looks to keep the momentum going, the rising MLS star is hopeful of earning a starting spot in the summer Olympics in Paris and looks to shore up his chances with a good appearance in this contest. Cincinnati’s goalkeeper Roman Celentano would like to upstage his rival in a bid for an Olympic roster spot. 

Crew defenders Rudy Camacho and Steven Moreira seemed locked in to start this match, but the left center back position is up for grabs between defenders Malte Amundsen and Yevhen Cheberko. Amundsen led Columbus to MLS glory while Cheberko was the starter in the Concacaf Champions Cup run to the finals. Look for Cheberko to get the start in this match while Amundsen gets more minutes midweek.

The injury to Farsi certainly is a blow to the Black & Gold but who else would head coach Wilfried Nancy trust besides utility man Sean Zawadzki? Zawadzki will continue to get starting minutes as he puts together a solid season. Wingback Yaw Yeboah will continue to start as the left wing-back.

The dynamic midfield duo of Aidan Morris and captain Darlington Nagbe will look to keep the ball away from Cincinnati’s main threat, playmaker Lucho Acosta. Morris has come up with big defensive plays and has been steadily adding goal-scoring to his arsenal, it might be difficult for Columbus to hold on to the defensive midfielder if he has a strong showing in the summer Olympics. Fortunately, the Black & Gold will be covered in Morris’ absence by Zawadzki whether for the short term or if any European clubs look to swoop him up.

Columbus scored eight goals last season against Cincinnati. Instead of addressing offensive need this offseason Cincinnati made additions defensively to try and stop one of the most prolific attacking teams in MLS by adding defender Miles Robinson. Forwards Cucho Hernandez and Diego Rossi will want to make that dream look like a fool’s errand as they try and secure the first MLS win in over a month for the Black & Gold. Forward Christian Ramirez plunged the dagger into the hearts of the Cincinnati faithful with his extra-time game-winning goal during the Eastern Conference Finals. Ramirez is a great option for Nancy as the third attacker, but Ramirez also has shown he can and does make an impact off the bench. Forward Jacen Russell-Rowe should be riding a confidence high after scoring twice in the Crew’s victory over the vaunted Rayados, who knocked Cincinnati out of the CCC. Russell-Rowe has gotten the majority of the starts and will get the benefit of the doubt to start again.