How to Watch: Crew vs. Montreal Impact

It’s a Wednesday night matchup at MAPFRE Stadium for the Columbus Crew to continue the month of October. After two consecutive winless matches on the road, the Black & Gold will look to continue their perfect record at the “Fortress” against the Thierry Henry managed Montreal Impact. This will be Crew’s last regular season game against one of the Canadian teams and Montreal’s only game against one of the Ohio clubs.

The first place team in the East has been unstoppable at MAPFRE Stadium, as Columbus has conceded just one goal at home and won all seven games played. The Black & Gold are currently on their worst defensive stretch of 2020 with five goals conceded in their last two matches, a 3-1 loss to Toronto FC and a 2-2 comeback draw against at FC Dallas. The Crew hasn’t gone more than two games without a win all season.

Montreal comes to Ohio’s capital in desperate need of points, with no wins in the team’s last five matches. The Impact broke a four-game losing streak last Saturday with a 2-2 draw at Saputo Stadium against the Fire. This is a side that has not won since Sept. 13 and has conceded at least two goals in their last seven games.

Previews:

Andrew Atkins looks into the betting odds for Columbus tonight. What do Crew fans think the starting eleven should be? Updates on Lucas Zelarayan and Eloy Room’s injuries from Orri Benatar. Everything to know about the Black & Gold’s new signing, Krisztian Nemeth. Nick Hudak scouts the Impact.

Lineups:

Crew (4-2-3-1): Eloy Room; Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Josh Williams, Milton Valenzuela, Artur, Aidan Morris, Luis Diaz, Pedro Santos, Youness Mokhtar, Gyasi Zardes

Impact (5-3-2): Clement Diop, Zachary Brault-Guillard, Luis Binks, Rod Fanni, Jukka Raitala, Jorge Corrales, Samuel Piette, Victor Wanyama, Amar Sejdic, Lassi Lappalainen, Bojan

Injuries and suspensions:

Crew: Defender Vito Wormgoor is OUT with an ankle injury. Midfielder Darlington Nagbe, Midfielder Lucas Zelarayan and Defender Waylon Francis are OUT with undisclosed injuries. Forward Fanendo Adi and Midfielder Fatai Alashe are QUESTIONABLE with undisclosed injuries.

Impact: Midfielder Steeven Saba is OUT with a left foot injury. Midfielder Matheiu Choiniere is OUT with an ankle injury. Forward Orji Okwonkwo is OUT with a hamstring injury. Midfielder Emanuel Maciel is OUT with a sports hernia. Forward Andrew Jackson-Hamel is OUT with a knee injury.

How to watch:

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: MAPFRE Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)

TV: FOX Sports Ohio, TSN5, TVA Sports

Radio: English: 97.1 The Fan - Spanish: Columbus Crew YouTube

Streaming: ESPN+

East Standings:

1. Columbus Crew (15 GP, 31 Pts)

2. Toronto FC (15 GP, 31 Pts)

3. Orlando City (15 GP, 29 Pts)

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9. Atlanta United (15 GP, 17 Pts)

10. Montreal Impact (15 GP, 17 Pts)

11. Chicago Fire (15 GP, 16 Pts)

Around the league:

Every team is playing tonight except for Nashville SC and Minnesota United, who played to a 0-0 draw last night at Nissan Stadium. The notable fixtures tonight include the Southeast Derby between Atlanta United and Orlando City, the Texas Derby in Houston between the Dynamo and FC Dallas, and another important Eastern Conference clash in Boston as the Revolution host Toronto FC.

Last five matches:

July 20, 2019: Columbus Crew 2, Montreal Impact 1 (MAPFRE Stadium)

April 13, 2019: Montreal Impact 1, Columbus Crew 0 (Saputo Stadium)

October 6, 2018: Montreal Impact 3, Columbus Crew 0 (Saputo Stadium)

March 10, 2018: Columbus Crew 3, Montreal Impact 2 (MAPFRE Stadium)

June 24, 2017: Columbus Crew 4, Montreal Impact 1 (MAPFRE Stadium)