September 12, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release
The eyes of the world will be on Cincinnati this weekend. Literally and figuratively.
A brief glance at the fixture chart for this weekend’s set of games shows no more intriguing games on the calendar for that time slot. Two of the top teams in the entire league, a potential playoff matchup preview and rematch, that also happens to be a meeting of one of the most passionate and closely bordered clubs in the league?
Check. Check. Check, for the average, neutral viewer.
Luciano Acosta taking on a fierce rival from just up the interstate? Acosta playing a team who booed him at the MLS All-Star Game this summer despite being voted captain? Taking on a player who, per an MLS Social Media post-poll, leads the MLS MVP Power Rankings in Cucho Hernandez.
Check. Check and Check again.
Even more to that point, the average, neutral viewer is in for a treat this weekend as the doubleheader of Hell is Real, followed immediately by El Trafico (the annual meeting of LAFC and LA Galaxy, another pair of top clubs this season) makes nicely for a night of soccer on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
It’s a boon for the league, really. FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew routinely race past the pace car of viewership given their respective media markets and then immediately follow that matchup with one of the largest media markets the nation has. What a night of football viewership. On top of all that, FC Cincinnati could clinch its playoff spot with a result this weekend.
A surplus of entertainment for a casual, September Saturday night.
But with those eyes, with that attention, come heightened expectations-both for the viewer and, more importantly, for the players themselves.
Rivalry games bring out a different energy than every other match, even though matchups with Columbus Crew (for example) are just one of 34 in a regular season. But from watching those “one of” games, you’d be hard-pressed to think the players think that way about games against Columbus.
“It’s the game you have to get up for to be a part of this club,” goalkeeper Roman Celentano said ahead of the last meeting between these two teams. “I’m all for guys using bad feelings as fuel.”
“A win feels great and a loss feels terrible. And we obviously want to win every game,” DeAndre Yedlin added around that same time.
“I know our guys are looking forward to the challenge,” FCC Head Coach Pat Noonan said ahead of the home edition of the Hell is Real matchup….
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