Columbus Crew will look to bounce back on home soil when they host in-form Nashville SC at Lower.com Field in Major League Soccer action.
Both teams are 27 points, having both played 15 league games, but the away side are two spots above thanks to their slightly superior goal difference.
Match preview
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Columbus saw their five-game unbeaten run come to an end with a narrow 3-2 loss away at Charlotte in their last outing.
That defeat followed three successive draws, meaning Wilfried Nancy's men are now without a win in four league matches, a slump that halted their early-season momentum.
As a result, Columbus have slipped to fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, three points adrift of table-toppers Philadelphia Union – however, they will take heart from returning to Lower.com Field, where they have claimed four of their seven wins this campaign.
Adding to their confidence is a favourable recent record against Nashville, with the Crew unbeaten in their last three meetings with the Tennessee outfit, winning two and drawing one.
In addition, both of those victories came at home, with identical 2-0 scorelines, a result they would gladly take again this weekend.
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However, they will be up against a Nashville side in red-hot form, with the Coyotes currently unbeaten in their last eight matches across all competitions, a run that includes six wins and two draws.
In their most recent appearance, BJ Callaghan's men claimed a 2-1 victory at Toronto, with Sam Surridge netting both goals to keep the momentum going.
Yet despite their strong form overall, Nashville's away record continues to raise concerns, having managed just two wins from six road games in MLS this season, losing three.
The visitors have also conceded 10 of their 17 goals away from home, making defensive fragility on the road an area the Crew can exploit.
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Team News
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Columbus Crew remain without defenders Rudy Camacho and Andres Herrera, both of whom are sidelined due to thigh injuries.
Attacking midfielder Diego Rossi will be the key figure for the hosts once again, as the Uruguayan has been involved in 11 goals this season – netting seven and assisting four – and remains Nancy's biggest threat going forward.
Nashville SC have a growing injury list of their own, with Taylor Washington, Maximus Ekk and Tyler Boyd all having knee issues, while Julian Gaines is also ruled out with a thigh injury.
Key defender Walker Zimmerman continues to recover from a head injury and has missed the last few matches, while Gaston Brugman is nursing a hip problem, leaving both players' availability in question ahead of the weekend clash.
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Hagen; Moreira, Zawadzki, Cheberko; Nagbe; Farsi, Rossi, Arfsten, Gazdag; Aliyu, Russell-Rowe
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Najer, Palacios, Maher, Lovitz; Muyl, Yazbek, Tagseth, Shaffelburg; Mukhtar, Surridge
We say: Columbus Crew 2-2 Nashville SC
Columbus will be desperate to avoid extending their winless streak to five, while Nashville will be determined to maintain their momentum and tighten up at the back away from home.
Considering their poor away form, the visitors are a doubt to pick all three points here, but they should have enough to leave here with a draw at least.
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