Crew 'focus on the process' in search of first win at Atlanta

The struggling Columbus Crew will try to pick up their first win of the season when they visit Atlanta United on Saturday evening.

After opening their season with a 3-2 loss to the Portland Timbers and drawing their next two, the Crew (0-3-2, 2 points) enter play on a two-match losing streak. Only four teams have scored fewer goals than Columbus, which is tied with Atlanta and five other teams at five.

Though Columbus has yet to tally a victory in 2026, Henrik Rydstrom has seen some positives from his club.

"I'm addicted to winning, and when you don't win, it's not fun," the first-year Crew head coach said. "But if you focus too much on that, you will get lost. So that's the balance I try to give the players and focus on the process."

Atlanta United (1-3-1, 4 points) have been off to a slow start of their own. They failed to generate much in the way of an attack in a 0-0 draw against D.C. United on March 21, a week after a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Union.

Though there is progress in the Atlanta camp, it hasn't necessarily equaled more wins.

"I think we've seen an evolution of the team from the first game to the fifth game. What's different is we haven't gotten the results to accompany that," Atlanta head coach Tata Martino said through an interpreter. "I'm not saying we deserve more points, but it's possible we could have more points than we do now."

Matias Galarza (visa) will be out for Atlanta. Sergio Santos (calf) is questionable.

For Columbus, Mo Farsi (sports hernia) had a recent "setback" in his recovery, per Rydstrom, and will remain out on Saturday. The Crew defender has not played in a match since July 6, 2025.

Wessam Abou Ali and Alexey Miranchuk (three goals apiece) lead Columbus and Atlanta in scoring, respectively.

--Field Level Media