How to Watch: Crew vs. FC Cincinnati

Everything you need to know for the latest edition of Hell is Real in Cincinnati

By Orri Benatar@obenatar512 Aug 29, 2020, 6:55pm EDT

FC Cincinnati v Columbus Crew SC - MLS Is Back Tournament

For the second time in 2020, Hell is Real will grace our television screens but it will be the first time this year this rivalry is played in Ohio. Tonight, Columbus Crew SC and FC Cincinnati meet down south at Nippert Stadium for the two teams’ fourth MLS regular season meeting to write another chapter in the history of this new rivalry.

The Black & Gold are in search of a bounce back performance after suffering the team’s first loss of 2020. Columbus fell to New York City FC on Monday in a 1-0 loss at Red Bull Arena. Despite the defeat, the Crew still have won five of the team’s first seven games this season.

FC Cincinnati has played just two games in the MLS regular season restart in home markets. The team’s first game back at home was a scoreless draw with D.C. United. That was followed up with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Chicago Fire in the Windy City on Tuesday.

Previews:

A scouting report on FC Cincy from Adam Miller. The best MLS bets for the weekend from Ben Ferree. Doug Hildreth gives a background on derbies and rivalries in world soccer. A look into the key players returning for Columbus. Patrick Murphy looks at how the team has had success but looks forward to the return of injured players.

Lineups:

Crew (4-2-3-1): Eloy Room; Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Josh Willians, Milton Valenzuela; Artur, Darlington Nagbe; Pedro Santos, Lucas Zelarayan, Youness Mokhtar; Gyasi Zardes

FC Cincinnati (4-3-3): Przemyslaw Tyton; Mathieu Deplagne, Kendall Waston, Maikel van der Werff, Andrew Gutman; Yuya Kubo, Siem de Jong, Frankie Amaya; Adrien Regattin, Jurgen Locadia, Joseph-Claude Gyau

Injuries and suspensions:

Crew: Defender Vito Wormgoor is OUT with an ankle injury.

FC Cincinnati: Goalkeeper Spencer Richey is OUT with a concussion. Midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin is OUT with an ankle injury.

How to watch:

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2020, 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Nippert Stadium (Cincinnati, Ohio)

TV: FOX Sports Ohio, Star64

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

Streaming: ESPN+, DAZN App

East Standings:

1. Toronto FC (8 GP, 18 pts)

2. Columbus Crew (7 GP, 16 pts)

3. Philadelphia Union (7 GP, 12 pts)

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9. Chicago Fire (7 GP, 7 pts)

10. FC Cincinnati (7 GP, 7 pts)

11. New York City FC (7 GP, 6 pts)

Around the league:

MLS is returning to regular play after Wednesday’s player protests postponed five games from across the league. Nine games will be played today around Major League Soccer. One is in the books with Orlando City’s 3-1 win at Atlanta United earlier on Saturday.

Key games include NYCFC hosting the Chicago Fire, the Philadelphia Union against D.C. United and the Portland Timbers facing Real Salt Lake at Providence Park. Two games will close out the last weekend of August on Sunday.

Nashville SC will host Inter Miami in the battle of the two new expansion teams followed by a Western Conference Final rematch in Seattle between the Sounders and Los Angeles Football Club.