Atlanta United vs. Columbus Crew Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 7/24/21

Atlanta United has struggled all season and in its most recent outing battled to a 1-1 draw on the road with FC Cincinnati on Wednesday in their first matchup under a new manager. Last Sunday Atlanta fired manager Gabriel Heinze after only 17 matches and replaced the Argentine with Robert Valentino, who was the assistant manager and will be the interim manager until further notice. Because of injuries and international duty Atlanta will play without Emerson Hyndman, Franco Ibarra, Mo Adams, George Bello, Brad Guzan, Miles Robinson and Ezequiel Barco.

Columbus Crew battled to a scoreless draw at home against Nashville on Wednesday. Columbus has scored well of late with two goals scored in each of its last three matches prior to being held scoreless in the draw with Nashville. Columbus has several players out due to injury or International Duty including Aidan Morris, Artur, Milton Valenzuela, Vito Wormgoor, Luis Diaz, Gyasi Zardes and Liam Fraser. Josh Williams is questionable for Saturday.

Atlanta Needs Help on Attack

Atlanta United is 10th in the Eastern Conference standings of the MLS with a record of 2-8-4, 14 points and a -3 goal difference. Atlanta has had its share of problems putting the ball in the net scoring two goals or fewer in each of its 14 MLS matches this season. In MLS play, Atlanta has scored just 14 goals in its first 14 matches. United has been helped by strong play in goal as Atlanta has allowed an average of only 1.21 goals per match turn

Brad Guzan is Atlanta’s top keeper but will be playing for the US national team and therefore taking his spot will be Alex Kann, who in 3 appearances for Atlanta has allowed four goals. Atlanta is led in scoring by Marcelino Moreno with three goals, while Josef Martinez and Anton Wakles have each scored two. Jake Mulraney has two assists to lead the club and six teammates have one assist apiece.

Scoring Keeping Crew Near The Top

The Columbus Crew are sixth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 5-6-3, 21 points and a +3 goal difference. Although the Columbus Crew were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Nashville, the club has scored very well through 14 matches of the regular season. Columbus is scoring an average of 1.43 goals per match. Leading the way in scoring for Columbus is Lucas Zelarayan with five goals, while Gyasi Zardes has four, but will miss out due to international duty.

The Columbus Crews usually have a very strong back line and goalkeeper corps, and this season is no exception as the Crew’s backline has allowed just 12 goals in league play for an average of 0.85 per match. No. 1 keeper Eloy Room has made 12 appearances in MLS action and allowed 10 goals. The absence of Vito Woormgoor, Josh Williams (questionable) and Liam Fraser, could hurt the defense for Columbus on Saturday Carrie

Pick: Columbus Crew +240

Atlanta just does not have the horses to keep pace with Columbus. Atlanta will play strong on its own third of the pitch, but will have problems setting up anything against a tough Columbus Crew backline that will pull back its midfielders to help in the box. Columbus has dominated this series winning 4 of the last 5 head-to-head against Atlanta including the most recent on November 8 of last year 2-1. Atlanta has had problems putting the ball in its own net as United has scored an average of only 1.00 goals per match through its 14 matches in MLS play this season. Atlanta will be without No. 1 keeper Brad Guzan and that will hurt its efforts in trying to keep the ball out of its net.

Total: Under 2.25

Columbus Crew will score at least once in this matchup that will be characterized by defense at both ends of the pitch. However, Atlanta will have a hard time finding the net against a tough Columbus Crew backline that is allowing an average of only 0.85 goals per match. The total has finished under the 2.5 goals threshold in four of Atlanta’s last six in MLS action

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Kevin Vallego

Kevin grew up in a sports-only household. Every afternoon was set to watching any sport that was on T.V. After years of watching sports he got introduced to the betting world, and soon stats, trends, and odds were Kevin's best friends. Now, almost 2 decades later, His life revolves around sports, writing about them, and betting on them. We are glad to have Kevin on our Winners & Whiners & StatSalt teams and you should be happy that we have him as well.