Major League Soccer announced the 2018 regular season schedules for all of the league’s 24 teams Monday afternoon. Columbus Crew SC open the year against the Supporters’ Shield winners New York Red Bulls at home on March 2. Looking at some trends from last year’s installment, Massive Report takes a closer look at a few different stretch of games that may, by the end of the season, may define the 2018 Crew.
Stretch 1: A tough start
Opponents: New York Red Bull, at New England Revolution (A), FC Dallas (H), at Philadelphia Union, Atlanta United
The Black & Gold open their season against Eastern Conference runners-up Red Bulls in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference semifinal, where the Crew will seek revenge after a 3-0 second-leg loss (3-1 aggregate).