CINCINNATI — The Hell is Real derby has never needed much help generating excitement, but Sunday's meeting between FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew has something more than bragging rights on the line.
Both clubs are fighting for their playoff lives, and with just four points separating them in the Eastern Conference standings, Sunday's match at TQL Stadium could have a huge impact on their postseason hopes.
Cincinnati enters the weekend in ninth place with 36 points, currently occupying the East's final playoff position. Columbus sits 13th with 32 points, leaving the Crew with little room for error as the regular season winds down.
A Columbus victory would pull the Crew within one point of Cincinnati while giving them a season sweep of their biggest rival. The Crew would still have several teams to pass in the standings, but three points in Cincinnati would be a big step in the right direction.
A Cincinnati win, meanwhile, would extend the gap between the rivals to seven points and deal a serious blow to Columbus's playoff hopes.
The two teams also arrive at Sunday's match heading in opposite directions.
Columbus has won three of its last four games, including Wednesday's impressive 3-1 victory over Charlotte FC. The Crew overwhelmed Charlotte with a club-record 33 shots, putting 14 on target in one of their best attacking performances of the season.
Brais Méndez, Anass Zaroury, and Taha Habroune provided the goals, continuing a stretch in which Columbus's newer additions and younger players have begun making a difference.
Cincinnati hasn't been nearly as convincing.
The Orange and Blue are coming off a 3-2 home loss to New England in which familiar defensive problems once again overshadowed a productive offense. Cincinnati created 23 shots but conceded three goals, bringing its season total to 68 allowed in league play.
That's a troubling number for a team trying to hold onto a playoff spot, particularly with a Columbus attack that appears to be finding its rhythm coming to town.
There are encouraging signs for Cincinnati, however. Tyrell Malacia assisted on both goals against New England, while Kévin Denkey has scored six times in his last four appearances. Tom Barlow has also scored in three consecutive league games.
If Sunday's derby becomes a high-scoring affair, neither team appears short on players capable of finding the net.
Columbus also has the advantage of having won the first meeting between the clubs this season, taking a 2-1 victory in July. Another win would give the Crew both regular-season victories over Cincinnati while bringing them closer to the playoff positions.
For Cincinnati, the challenge is finding a way to slow down a Crew attack that produced more than 30 shots Wednesday. Columbus, meanwhile, needs to prove its recent improvement can carry over against a rival with just as much at stake.
There are still games remaining after Sunday, so neither team's postseason fate will be decided entirely by the result. But with the standings this tight and the regular season running out, both clubs understand how costly another loss could be.
Hell is Real is always personal. This time, the consequences could extend well beyond the rivalry itself.
