One of the most attractive duels of this first week in MLS is the one between the current champion Columbus Crew, a team that debuts the defense of its title at home, hosting Atlanta United, which arrives with renewed hopes and willing to be one of the rivals win in the Eastern Conference.

Led by Wilfried Nancy and with players such as Juan Camilo ‘Cucho’ Hernández, Alexandru Matan, Diego Rossi and Aidan Morris, Columbus Crew hopes to give an important warning that taking away the title will not be an easy thing since the greatest desire is the two-time championship.

For its part, Atlanta United enters this season with new spirits and especially with a thirst for revenge against the Columbus Crew, a team that eliminated the ‘Five Stripes’ in the first round of the playoffs of the previous season.

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That is why those led by Gonzalo Pineda want to hit the table and dent the Columbus Crew crown, in order to send a clear message in the East that they want to be a leading team led by figures like Thiago Almada and the Greek scorer Giorgios Giakoumakis, who stood out the previous season.