Atlanta United FC (13-10-9) vs. Columbus Crew (15-8-9)
Atlanta United FC vs. Columbus Crew 10/7/23 – Atlanta United FC welcome Columbus Crew to Mercedes-Benz Stadium this Saturday in an eagerly-awaited Major League Soccer (MLS) showdown, as both have shown stellar performances this season, though Columbus Crew narrowly leads in terms of standings. As playoff hopes enter their crucial stage, fans anticipate an intriguing matchup – we offer our expert MLS picks as an informative preview to this encounter!
Atlanta United’s offense features impressive firepower. Midfield maestro Georgios Giakoumakis has been impressive, scoring 15 goals from 19 starts – combined with Thiago Almada’s 11 goals and 16 assists makes Atlanta’s attack formidable. Young talent Tyler Wolff also contributed five goals despite only making 6 starts! All these players will play key roles against Columbus FC who have proven vulnerable on the road.
Columbus Crew are led offensively by Cucho Hernandez, who has scored 14 goals this season. Lucas Zelarayan and Christian Ramirez offer depth to Columbus’ attack with 18 goals combined and 11 assists between them; these three should look to exploit any gaps in Atlanta’s defensive unit due to their goalkeeper’s recent form.
Atlanta United FC vs. Columbus Crew Game Info
| When: | Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| TV: | ATV |
| Stream: | TBD |
Brad Guzan GK vs. Patrick Schulte GK
Brad Guzan brings with him years of experience to Atlanta FC’s backline. After making 25 starts this season and keeping seven clean sheets – an indication of his reliability between the sticks – his 57 saves prove his reliability against Columbus’ potency in attack. Guzan’s leadership and command over his defensive line will be essential when confronted by Hernandez or Zelarayan-type threats.
Patrick Schulte of Columbus has been an impressively consistent force for his side this season. Starting 29 times for Columbus this campaign, Schulte has amassed 8 clean sheets and an amazing 86 saves – an astounding statistic which showcases his reflexes and shot-stopping capabilities. Atlanta boasts attackers such as Giakoumakis and Almada, both who have been impressive, so Schulte will need to remain at his peak to keep Columbus competitive throughout. His ability to marshal defense and make game-changing saves will also come under close examination during this key fixture.
Soccer Odds/Point Spread: Atlanta United FC -135, Total Odds: 2.5
Atlanta United FC currently enjoys a slight edge in this matchup with a moneyline set at -135, showing their slight favoritism in this contest and likely due to their home advantage and recent offensive form. Their total odds have also been set as over 2.5 with an associated price of -175, suggesting bookmakers expect this game to produce goals-laden action; given both teams’ offensive prowess, bettors may witness an engaging encounter where goals may well be the order of the day!
Atlanta United FC Betting Trends
Atlanta United’s recent form is excellent, having picked up two wins out of their last five matches and outscoring their opponent against the spread by three goals (3-2). Notably, their home games often saw totals go OVER suggesting the strength of Atlanta United’s attack at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Columbus Crew Betting Trends
The Crew have experienced similar success to Atlanta over their last five matches, winning two outright while covering the spread in three. At home they have frequently seen totals exceed 100 which points towards their attacking intent.
Atlanta United FC vs. Columbus Crew 10/7/23 Betting Picks
As determined by our expert analysis premium picks, Atlanta United FC and Columbus Crew’s clash is one of the MLS season’s marquee clashes. Both teams have proven their offensive prowess consistently throughout this campaign, making this game must-watch viewing for fans and tantalizing bettors alike. Atlanta may hold an edge with home turf advantage and their frontmen Giakoumakis and Almada performing brilliantly; Mercedes-Benz Stadium, known for its electric atmosphere will certainly boost Atlanta United’s chances.
However, Columbus Crew have shown tremendous adaptability this season despite being considered underdogs on paper. Their attacking trio can exploit even minor defensive miscues to remain a formidable threat throughout 90 minutes of play. Based on our expert analysis, over 2.5 goals looks like an attractive bet given Atlanta’s greater defensive prowess; yet Columbus might spring an upset and highlight the value of informed betting choices in closely contested fixtures.
Free Pick and Prediction: Atlanta United FC 2, Columbus Crew 1.