The Columbus Crew is ready to crank up the heat Saturday as they prepare for the second chapter in the 2024 Hell is Real story. Just a week removed from one of the weirdest games in Crew history and their most lopsided defeat in recent memory, the Black & Gold are looking to return to winning ways as soon as possible.

Columbus faces their bitter rivals with revenge on their mind after suffering a defeat at home in the last Hell is Real match earlier this year. Despite losing the last contest against Cincinnati, there is an overwhelming optimism for the Black & Gold and their fans as they enter this match. Here’s everything you need to know about Columbus’ opponents Saturday and how the Crew can paint Ohio Black & Gold once more. 

Opponents at a Glance:

Record: 16-3-8, 51 points

League Form:  W,L,L,D,W

Leading Scorer: Luciano Acosta (11)

Assist Leader: Luciano Acosta (15)

Player to Watch: Luciano Acosta 

The 29-year-old Argentine is the reigning MLS Most Valuable Player after a 2023 campaign that saw him record 21 goals and 14 assists across all competitions. Lucho has continued his fine form this year contributing 11 goals and 15 assists in all competitions thus far.

Acosta is an excellent player on the ball and can pick opponents apart with accurate long-range passing, defense splitting through balls, or dribbling through opponents by himself. Lucho also has an excellent finishing touch around goal when he finds himself with time and space to shoot. Where Acosta truly excels is his ability to drift away from defenders and find himself in a dangerous space to hurt opponents. The Crew needs to be aware of the Argentine’s whereabouts on Saturday. 

How the opponents play: 

Head Coach Pat Noonan is in his third year at the helm in Southern Ohio and has used much of what has worked in the past thus far in 2024. His side has a huge emphasis on transition, but has improved in both creating attacking opportunities in possession and maintaining possession in this new campaign. With their improvement in possession, Noonan’s side has maintained their defensive acumen and is among the best defensive sides in the league this campaign. 

Noonan’s side almost exclusively uses a back three, similar to Columbus. In possession, Noonan employs a 3-4-1-2 shape with wing backs pushing up the field and a midfield base of 2 players helping circulate the ball with the back three. Acosta has the freedom to roam about and look for space to receive the ball. The two strikers will look to threaten with runs in behind and stretch their opponent’s backline. This shape usually allows for easy circulation of the ball in their defensive half, while opening up gaps in the attacking part of the field for Acosta and company to receive the ball. The biggest change in Noonan’s side from 2023 to 2024 has been their ability to keep possession for longer periods of time. While I still expect the Crew to have the majority of possession on Saturday, don’t be surprised if Noonan asks his team to keep possession more than normal either. 

Defensively, Noonan is also remarkably similar to Wilfried Nancy in his setup. Like Columbus, Noonan’s side will drop their wing backs into the back line to create a back 5. Their midfield will consist of two central midfielders looking to anticipate play and intercept passes. While three forward players look to apply pressure up the field and make play predictable for those in behind. This 5-2-3 shape is very similar to Columbus’s defensive shape, so it isn’t one that should confuse the Crew too much. Noonan has his side safely positioned in the top 10 best defensive units in the league and they are a particularly tough nut to crack at home. 

How the Crew can win:

The Crew can leapfrog their Hell is Real rivals in the standings with a win on Saturday, with a game in hand. The Crew and their fans will also be looking for revenge after a loss in the most recent derby and their incredibly frustrating loss to Seattle last weekend. There are a few things the Crew need to do much better (aside from having an actual goalkeeper in goal) in order to win on Saturday 

1. Rest Defense and Defending in Transition: Despite becoming a more possession thus far in 2024, Noonan’s sides’ bread and butter is still attacking transition. This is an area the Crew will be well versed in thanks to Nancy and his game model, but regardless will have to be sharp on Saturday. Look for the Crew to emphasize recovering the ball quickly after losing it to limit their vulnerability in transition. Also look for the Crew to lose the ball in spots that would be advantageous for them to defend in, like close to the attacking goal or in their attack corners. The Crew backline and midfield will need to be well positioned away from the ball as well in case the initial pressure is beaten. 
2. Beat the Pressure: Noonan’s side usually applies very specific and intense pressure when the Crew is in possession. Whether it’s high up the field or in a mid-block, the Crew will need to handle and beat the pressure. I expect Noonan’s side to apply pressure up the field very high in the first 15-20 minutes. Look for the Crew to limit turnovers, especially in the middle third of the field. Additionally, look for the Crew to play “line-breaking” passes. These passes “break” opponents’ defensive lines by playing through gaps between the players. For the Crew specifically, these are often from defenders to forwards or wing backs. 
3. Create Chances in Possession: The Crew struggled to create chances in the most recent Hell is Real Derby. This is due in large part to the similar formations that each side uses. These similar formations limit the advantages that the Crew typically have against teams who play with a back because there is a player that is close enough to defend pretty much every player in the Crew’s possession shape. Look for Wilfried Nancy to have some fresh ideas on how to create chances in possession and for the Crew to be a little bit sharper with their movement and passing combinations in the final third.