Columbus Crew vs Atlanta United Picks and Predictions June 25th 2025

Hot Baths Help Crew Prep for Heat, Atlanta United

The heat will be on — literally and figuratively — when Atlanta United visit the Columbus Crew on Wednesday night.

With Ohio’s capital city gripped by a heatwave, the Crew (8-3-7, 31 points) have been adjusting their training schedule to manage heat indexes in the low 100s. The players now train in the early afternoon and follow a regimen designed by the performance staff, which even includes hot baths.

Master Winning Soccer Picks with Insights from Top Handicappers!

“We try to maximize our chance to be good, so we identify a few players that we know have an issue with the heat,” Crew coach Wilfried Nancy said.

“What we do is, after the practice, they have a protocol to do with the hot bath and in this kind of environment to help them to gain the margin that we can gain.”

While Atlanta United (4-9-5, 17 points) play indoors, they are accustomed to training in stifling conditions. But it’s not just the weather weighing on them — an 0-6-2 away record and two straight losses have left the Five Stripes languishing in 13th place in the Eastern Conference.

“We have to push that fantastic boat, Atlanta United, that we are a part of forward,” Atlanta coach Ronny Deila said.

“It’s a big, big ship, and you need everybody on board, and we have to go in the same direction. This is the culture and I’m here to change things — and I will. Everything is about performing. Everything is about, in the end, winning.”

Neither side played over the weekend, and Deila believes the extra rest will benefit veteran forward Miguel Almiron (three goals, three assists), who is expected to play a key role.

However, Columbus will be missing several key players: goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and defenders Malte Amundsen and Rudy Camacho remain sidelined. Additionally, midfielder/defender Max Arfsten is currently away with the U.S. national team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Exclusive Access: Sharp MLS Society

Get picks and perks.

Join Now!

Atlanta hopes to take advantage of those absences, but Columbus remains wary of the visitors.

“It’s one of the best teams offensively because they have a lot of guys who can create something from nothing,” Crew defender Yevhen Cheberko said. “We expect a hard game.”

Want the Edge for Your Soccer Bets? Tap Into the Latest Soccer Picks and Predictions!