Almost a week after Columbus Crew SC got its offensive groove back in the most recent edition of the Hell is Real Derby, the Black & Gold face Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on Saturday. Comparatively speaking, this has been one of the longest breaks between games since MLS returned from the pandemic-induced long pause.
The Crew players could use a little time to catch their breath and recover from injuries before suiting up against a long-time rival that has struggled as of late. With another week off in between this game and the first game of Phase Two, head coach Caleb Porter doesn’t need to be as creative in resting legs as he did during the two-game-a-week clip the team previously endured.