Columbus Crew v Nashville SC: Rydstrom still fine-tuning amid winless start

Henrik Rydstrom says he is still fine-tuning the Columbus Crew as they get used to his methods, as they aim to end their winless start against Nashville SC.

Rydstrom was brought in as Wilfried Nancy’s replacement at the end of last year, but he is still chasing his first win in charge of the Crew, having picked up two draws since their opening-day loss to the Portland Timbers.

As such, they sit 11th in the Eastern Conference, though they kept their first clean sheet of the season in their 0-0 draw with the Chicago Fire.

And Rydstrom is pleased with the progress they have made so far, and says he expected a period of adaptation.

“This first part feels nice in the beginning, and then you start to have little bumps in the road, but you need to go through that to have success later on,” he said.

“You would love to have a shortcut, but then you don’t develop parts of the play that we’re still not happy with.

“It’s about fine-tuning, and I’m 100% confident that we will start to click and be good. The confidence in the team is good.”

Raised the roof on Saturday Ready to do it again? pic.twitter.com/X41T3RqqF0

— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) March 11, 2026

As for Nashville, they are unbeaten in their three MLS matches so far, as they sit second in the East, level on points with current leaders New York City FC.

They go into Saturday’s clash at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on the back of a 0-0 draw with Inter Miami in the Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16 first leg, but BJ Callaghan is unfazed by the thick-and-fast nature of their current schedule.

“Being a good team and playing in multiple competitions, it’s what you’ve got to do [a quick turnaround],” he said.

“We’ll go back out and put the best group we can out versus Columbus, who I think is a very dynamic team when you watch them, their pressing and interchangeability with the ball.

“Playing them at home, there’s a good intensity to their game, so we know to expect another typical hard-fought MLS road game.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Columbus Crew – Daniel Gazdag

Daniel Gazdag has scored six goals in 10 career regular-season matches against Nashville, equaling his most against any opponent (New England Revolution).

Only Lionel Messi (seven) has scored more league goals against Nashville in the club’s history.

Nashville SC – Sam Surridge

Sam Surridge is the second Nashville player to score multiple goals in consecutive regular-season matches after Hany Mukhtar did so in September 2022.

The only player since 2020 to score multiple goals in three straight league appearances is Lionel Messi (five straight in 2025).

Braved the rain. Poured on the pressure.

Fans were on another level tonight pic.twitter.com/ART1u1nBxv

— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) March 12, 2026

MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN

Columbus have lost only one of their seven all-time home matches against Nashville (W4 D2), holding Nashville to just three goals in those seven matches. Two of the three goals were scored in Nashville’s last visit to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, a 2-2 draw in May 2025.

However, Columbus are winless through three matches of a season for just the sixth time in club history and the first since 2016. The Crew went on to win the Supporters’ Shield in two of the previous five seasons in which they failed to win any of their first three matches (2004, 2009).

Nashville’s seven points through three matches (W2 D1) equals their best start to a regular season in club history (also 2023). Their seven goals are the most after three matches of a season, while their two goals allowed equals the second fewest (0 in 2023).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Columbus Crew – 48.3%

Draw – 25.9%

Nashville SC – 25.8%