ATLANTA, GA (August 14, 2018) – For the second time this season, Atlanta United FC will play Columbus Crew SC in a game between heavyweights in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta is currently 1st (2nd in PPG) in the east while Columbus is 4th. The previous meeting ended in a 2-0 win for Atlanta United.
Atlanta United Preview: Five Stripes vs. Columbus Crew Preview
How To Tune In
Date: Sunday, August 19th, 4:00 PM EST
Watch: Fox Sports Southeast
Radio: 92.9 The Game with Jason Longshore and Mike Conti
Weather
| Date | Description | High/Low | Precipitation | Wind | Humidity |
| Sunday August 19th | Scattered Thunderstorms | 88º/71º | 60% | W 7 MPH | 73% |
Doubtful the roof is open this weekend because of the high chance of thunderstorms.
Predicted Lineup
You don’t always know what Tata will come out with but based on last week and no real injuries, I think they stick with the same lineup. It worked well last week so there’s no reason to shy away from it. Larentowicz played well in his “new” position and Kratz did well starting in the midfield.
Betting Lines (Bovada)
Prediction
Columbus Crew is a very good team who has posed problems to Atlanta before, knocking them out of the playoffs last year. They currently sit at 4th and are 9 points behind Atlanta with 39. Atlanta has played them once this year winning 2-0 courtesy of a Tito Villalba goal and Josef Martinez headed goal where he broke his nose going for the ball.
Columbus has trouble going forward but is extremely stout in the back. They are a team who plays short passes, possession football, and plays with width but are poor finishers averaging 14 shots a game. One area where Atlanta has the advantage is counter-attacks. Columbus is poor at defending them and Atlanta is great at them.
Although the Crew have only won 2 out of their last 6 away games, they have had great form as of late. They have won the last 3 with 7 goals scored, even beating arguably the best team in the league New York Red Bulls away.
Overall, it’s going to be an extremely tough match with both teams playing possession football and attacking on the counter. Both teams have to bury their chances if they want any chance of winning but for both teams this year, that has been their Achilles heel. My unbiased opinion says it will be a 2-2 draw but the fan in me says 3-2 to Atlanta United. I think it will be a draw though because of Columbus’ form and Atlanta’s lack of lineup options.
