ATLANTA UNITED AT COLUMBUS IN MLS OPENER

Atlanta United will play at Columbus at 2 p.m. today at Lower.com Field. The game will be televised by Apple TV. You can

follow Doug Roberson’s coverage on X (formerly known as Twitter) @DougRobersonAJC.

■ Columbus manager: Wilfried

Nancy

■ Columbus at home last year:

12-1-4

■ Atlanta United on road last year: 3-6-8

■ Columbus goals for/against in 2023 regular season: 67/46

■ Columbus expected goals for/ against in 2023 regular season: 57.7/41.3

■ Atlanta United goals for/ against in 2023 regular season: 66/53

■ Atlanta United expected goals for/against in 2023 regular season: 48.7/46 COLUMBUS KEY PLAYERS

■ Cucho: 16 goals, 11 assists

■ Christian Ramirez: 8 goals, 4 assists ■ Aiden Morris: 4 goals, 7 assists ATLANTA UNITED KEY PLAYERS

■ Thiago Almada: 11 goals, 19 assists

■ Giorgos Giakoumakis: 17 goals, 2 assists

■ Brooks Lennon: 4 goals, 10 assists

■ Caleb Wiley: 4 goals, 4 assists

■ Saba Lobjanidze: 3 goals, 4 assists INJURY REPORTS Atlanta United

■ Out: Jamal Thiare (concussion protocol), Derrick Etienne (ankle), Edwin Mosquera (travel-related) Columbus

■ N/A WHAT WAS SAID

“I don’t really care how we start, all I care about is to start with a win. Of course, it’s going to be a competitive game. They won the league title last year. So they have this honor, and it’s going to be nice to win at their home.” – Giakoumakis

“We will be ready on Saturday. It will be a big, big game because, not for me, but I know the club remembers the playoff games and yeah, we will be ready.” – Stian Gregersen

“We all know that Columbus is a tough opponent. It’s one of the best team in MLS, they won last year. So they are best. We are not going for draw. We are going for a win. And we have a confidence about that.”– Lobjanidze ATLANTA UNITED’S PREDICTED 11

■ Goalkeeper Brad Guzan

■ Centerback Derrick Williams

■ Centerback Stian Gregersen

■ Right fullback Brooks Lennon

■ Left fullback Caleb Wiley

■ Defensive midfielder Bartosz Slisz

■ Midfielder Tristan Muyumba

■ Attacking midfielder Thiago Almada

■ Winger Saba Lobjanidze

■ Winger Xande Silva

■ Striker Giorgos Giakoumakis

COURTESY Atlanta United midfielder Tristan Muyumba dribbles against Columbus in Game 3 of their playoff series in November. The Crew won at home to clinch the series and went on to capture the MLS Cup.