How to Watch: Crew vs. New England Revolution

The wait is over and the Columbus Crew is ready to open its new home. Saturday is a monumental day for the city of Columbus and its soccer team, as the Crew opens Lower.com Field against the Eastern Conference’s first-place New England Revolution. The team and community of Ohio’s capital are looking forward to seeing the first game at this new crowned jewel of American soccer that opens a second generation of stadiums in Major League Soccer.

Columbus is undefeated in matches at home but is coming off a week in which the team lost and drew on the road to the Philadelphia Union and Austin FC respectively. With 13 MLS matches at Lower.com Field, the Crew expects to pick up points, specifically wins, in each one of these matches. The challenge is set against the best team in the East, who Columbus lost to 1-0 on May 16 at Gillette Stadium.

The Revolution has won seven of its first 11 games but is fresh off a surprising 2-1 loss to FC Dallas, the last place side in the Western Conference. Despite that most recent blip, Bruce Arena and his squad have been the best team in the East throughout the start of the season and have the best player in MLS, Carles Gil. The Spanish playmaker won the MLS Player of the Month award in June with five assists in just three matches to reach his total of seven the season.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Crew: Artur (right hip), Aidan Morris (left knee), and Bradley Wright-Phillips (right thigh) are OUT. Luis Diaz (right knee), Pedro Santos (right thigh), Josh Williams (left ankle), and Gyasi Zardes (right calf) are QUESTIONABLE.

Revolution: Luis Caicedo (lower body) is OUT.

How to watch:

Date: Saturday, July 3, 2021, 5 p.m. ET

Venue: Lower.com Field - Columbus, Ohio

TV: ESPN

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

Streaming: ESPN App

East Standings:

1. New England Revolution (11 GP, 23 PTS)

2. Orlando City (10 GP, 21 PTS)

3. Philadelphia Union (11 GP, 19 PTS)

4. New York City FC (10 GP, 17 PTS)

5. Columbus Crew (10 GP, 15 PTS)

Around the league:

Columbus and New England lead off the Fourth of July week with eight games following the opener at Lower.com Field. Second place Orlando City SC looks to keep up its pace with the Revs when hosting the New York Red Bulls. Another notable Saturday match is at Nissan Stadium where Nashville SC takes on the Philadelphia Union.

July 4 will have three late night Western Conference battles to conclude the United States’ 245th birthday. FC Dallas hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Supporters’ Shield leaders Seattle Sounders travel to the Colorado Rapids and Chicharito and the LA Galaxy welcome Sporting Kansas City.

Last five matches:

May 16, 2021: New England Revolution 1, Columbus Crew 0 (Gillette Stadium)

December 6, 2020 (East Final): Columbus Crew 1, New England Revolution 0 (Historic Crew Stadium)

April 6, 2019: Columbus Crew 1, New England Revolution 0 (Historic Crew Stadium)

March 9, 2019: New England Revolution 0, Columbus Crew 2 (Gillette Stadium)

May 19, 2018: New England Revolution 0, Columbus Crew 1 (Gillette Stadium)