After a defeat and two draws to start the season, the Columbus Crew are still searching for their first victory of the 2026 campaign. Last week, the Crew tied the Chicago Fire in a pretty even match that showcased a newfound defensive stability. This week, the Crew looks to combine their defensive stability with the attacking prowess from their first two matches as they welcome Nashville SC into town. 

Nashville is Crew’s toughest test yet, as they have started the season with four wins and two draws in all competitions. They are among the favorites in the Eastern Conference, thanks to a stellar offseason highlighted by their addition of Christian Espinoza in free agency from San Jose. Adding Espinoza to an already dangerous attacking pair of Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar is a frightening prospect for any opponents in MLS. That said, Nashville is competing in the Concacaf Champions Cup and just rolled out their best XI on Wednesday against Inter Miami. This is a great opportunity for the Black & Gold to kickstart their season with a win against a Nashville side that likely won’t be at full strength. Let’s dive into what promises to be an exciting and potentially significant early-season matchup in Columbus. 

Nashville SC at a Glance:

Record: 2-0-1 7 points

Recent Form: D, W, D, W, W

Leading Scorer: Sam Surridge (4)

Assist Leader: Patrick Yazbek (2)

Player to Watch: Sam Surridge

Truthfully, I am not sure if Surridge will start or even play in this match due to fixture congestion and my presumption that Nashville will prioritize their midweek second leg against Miami in the CCC. However, if he does see the pitch, he will be the biggest threat for the the team from the Music City. Surridge is coming off an incredible 2025 season that saw him score 31 goals in 40 appearance. Those are Cucho-like numbers to put it in reference for Crew fans.

On top of that, he has started 2026 with a bang as he has scored 5 times in 4 appearances. That’s pretty good to say the least. Surridge is a prototypical center forward with a big body and frame that somehow is also lost in opposing boxes. Surridge is an excellent finisher and is capable of scoring with just about any body part, executing just about any type of finish. Surridge thrives on service and has plenty of that in Head Coach BJ Callaghan’s system. If Surridge sees the pitch in Columbus on Saturday, the Crew will need to be on high alert.

How Nashville SC plays: 

Nashville Head Coach BJ Callaghan is in year two at the helm in Music City and has turned things around quickly in Nashville. Callaghan joined after achieving cult status with the USMNT, leading them to a Nations League championship during Gregg Berhalter’s break from the team after the World Cup. Now, Callaghan is calling the shots and has turned Nashville into a contender in the Eastern Conference and indeed across the entire league. As you would expect, Callaghan’s system doesn’t differ much from Berhalter’s. Nashville looks to keep possession out of their 4-2-3-1 shape that shifts into more of a 3-5-2 in possession. In fact, Nashville is the 6th highest possession team in MLS after three games. Look for Nashville to look to dominate possession and progress the ball in wide areas and put service into the box for their strikers. 

Defensively, Nashville is a compact team that doesn’t press super high, but wins possession back effectively. Nashville’s 4-2-3-1 often shifts into a 4-4-2 at times resembling a 4-2-4, which allows them to press the back line aggressively and force turnovers. Nashville has conceded just two goals in six matches this season and has yet to allow more than one in a game. The Crew will need to be at their best to break down such a disciplined defense.

How the Crew can win:

The Crew is in danger of falling off the pace of the rest of the Eastern Conference. Winless in three is much different than winless in four. Here is what Columbus needs to do to win on Saturday. Spoiler alert, it hasn’t changed much from game one!

1. Eliminate Transition Moments: The Crew has been atrocious in defensive transition thus far in 2026. They have also been entirely too lenient in allowing their opponents opportunities to attack in transition. On ball turnovers and losing the ball in bad areas have killed the Black & Goal in their three 2026 matches. Additionally, a “Professional Foul” in defensive transition wouldn’t hurt the Black & Gold when they are caught in transition. Look for an improvement in on-ball decision-making and decision-making in the first few moments after the ball is lost.
2. Defend in Transition: When Nashville does break out in transition, the Crew need to be much more organized and committed in defending these moments. Getting numbers behind the ball and stopping ball progression are two things to look for in these moments on Saturday.
3. Manage a Lead: The Crew has taken the lead twice in 2026 and both times have given it away and been forced to chase the game from behind. That can’t be a trend that continues. For the Crew to elevate to the next level, they need to hold on to and grow leads instead of throwing them away and chasing the match from behind.