Saturday night’s clash at Mercedes-Benz Stadium brings together two sides who have started the 2026 MLS Regular Season under plenty of early pressure.
Atlanta United host the Columbus Crew at 7:30 PM ET, with both clubs searching for a spark after disappointing starts to the 2026 season. Atlanta currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, while Columbus are further down in 14th; remarkably, both sides have identical records of five goals scored and eight conceded through their first five matches.
This fixture represents a massive opportunity for either team to jumpstart their campaign and escape the bottom half of the standings. While the Crew have historically held a slight edge in this rivalry, Atlanta are desperate to use their home-field advantage to secure a much-needed result in front of their fans.
Best Bets & Predictions
Based on early-season trends and historical matchups, here are our top betting recommendations for Atlanta United vs Columbus Crew. We’re particularly confident in “Both Teams to Score” due to both teams’ consistent defensive lapses and the attacking reliability of key forwards.
| Our Prediction | Odds & Sportsbook | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both Teams to Score – Yes | -175 @ Bet365 (63.6%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Both sides have scored and conceded in every match this season; neither keeps goals out. |
| Columbus Crew to Win | +130 @ Bet365 (43.5%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Columbus have won 10 of the last 21 meetings and remain more clinical in attack. |
| Over 2.5 Goals | -142 @ Bet365 (58.8%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Recent head-to-heads and big chance stats suggest open play and goals. |
| Wessam Abou Ali – Anytime Scorer | +110 @ Bet365 (47.6%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Abou Ali leads Crew with 3 goals, hits target with 57% of shots. |
Our approach: Start with Both Teams to Score, add Over 2.5 Goals for parlay potential.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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Season Form & Standings
The 2026 MLS Regular Season standings show both Atlanta United and Columbus Crew struggling to get out of first gear. Atlanta have managed just one win from five, while Columbus are yet to record a victory, both languishing at the foot of the Eastern Conference. With identical defensive records and toothless attacks so far, this matchup is a critical chance to reverse fortunes for either side. That said, ATLUTD are unbeaten in their last two, beating the Philadelphia Union 3-1 before a 0-0 draw against DC United — both at home.
| Team | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta United | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 4 |
| Columbus Crew | 14 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 2 |
Potential Match-Winners
- Aleksey Miranchuk (Atlanta United): Three goals and five big chance assists in five games. Creates a team-high 1.8 clear chances per match.
- Emmanuel Latte Lath (Atlanta United): One goal, but consistently gets into scoring positions with two shots per game.
- Wessam Abou Ali (Columbus Crew): Three goals, 57.1% shot accuracy, and four big chance assists — Crew’s main threat.
- Diego Rossi (Columbus Crew): Two goals and three big chance assists, offers creativity and late runs from the flanks.
Head-to-Head: Last 5 Meetings
Columbus Crew have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning 10 of the last 21 encounters, but the past two seasons have produced some high-scoring thrillers.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 14, 2025 | Atlanta United 4-5 Columbus Crew | MLS |
| Jun 26, 2025 | Columbus Crew 3-1 Atlanta United | MLS |
| Jul 21, 2024 | Atlanta United 2-1 Columbus Crew | MLS |
| Feb 24, 2024 | Columbus Crew 1-0 Atlanta United | MLS |
| Nov 13, 2023 | Columbus Crew 4-2 Atlanta United | MLS |
Atlanta United vs Columbus Crew Prediction
Atlanta and Columbus are both desperate for a statement win, with neither side having found early consistency in the 2026 campaign. With Aleksey Miranchuk pulling the strings for Atlanta and Wessam Abou Ali leading the line for Columbus, expect both teams to create chances, but defensive lapses to persist. Columbus’s slightly better attacking efficiency and a historical edge in this matchup nudges the value toward the visitors. Backing “Both Teams to Score” at -175 @ Bet365 (63.6%) is the top play, with Columbus Crew at +130 @ Bet365 (43.5%) a tempting underdog pick.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
More MLS stats and standings: MLS standings 2026 | Top scorers | Assist leaders | Full MLS stats hub