Hell is Real derby headlines stacked MLS Matchday 24

Hell is Real derby anticipation reaches fever pitch as FC Cincinnati invite arch-rival Columbus Crew to TQL Stadium for a clash that could redraft the Supporters’ Shield race and the Eastern Conference pecking order.

Hell is Real derby: Cincinnati look to defend the fortress

FC Cincinnati enter the Hell is Real derby having dropped only two home points all season, and Pat Noonan’s men know a win will not only preserve their league-best record but also deal a psychological blow to a Crew side flirting with silverware of its own. The last Hell is Real derby in March ended 2-1 to the Orange and Blue, yet Columbus arrive buoyed by a seven-game unbeaten streak in all competitions. As always, the Hell is Real derby intensity will hinge on midfield duels: Luciano Acosta’s roaming creativity against Darlington Nagbe’s calm distribution should dictate tempo, while Matt Miazga and Miles Robinson must marshal red-hot striker Cucho Hernández.

Key numbers and match-ups

• FC Cincinnati: unbeaten in 14 of their last 15 MLS matches
• Columbus Crew: league-high 43 goals scored, 2.53 goals per game in the last six
• Head-to-head: Hell is Real derby stands at five wins apiece since 2020

Look for wing-backs Santiago Arias and DeAndre Yedlin to stretch play, forcing the Crew’s narrow diamond wider than Wilfried Nancy usually prefers. Should that plan succeed, Acosta’s diagonal balls could tear gaps for Aaron Boupendza to exploit. Conversely, Columbus will press high, banking on Aidan Morris to spring quick counters that have yielded goals in four straight Hell is Real derby editions.

Messi’s Miami faces stern Nashville SC test

Not to be overshadowed by the Hell is Real derby, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami brace for a rematch of February’s Leagues Cup final when resurgent Nashville SC visits Chase Stadium. Miami have climbed from 14th to sixth since Gerardo “Tata” Martino switched to a 3-5-2, with Messi (12 goals, 8 assists) orchestrating attacks alongside Luis Suárez. Nashville, however, ride a five-game winning run under interim boss B.J. Callaghan, conceding only twice in that span.

Tactics board

Miami’s ability to overload half-spaces has overwhelmed recent opponents, but Nashville boast one of MLS’s stingiest back lines, anchored by Walker Zimmerman and Jakob Glesnes. Expect Callaghan to mirror Miami’s shape, deploying Aníbal Godoy as a screen while Hany Mukhtar drifts between the lines to test Sergio Busquets’ legs in transition. Should Miami reclaim possession quickly, Jordi Alba’s under-lapping runs could expose Nashville’s flanks, yet Shaq Moore’s pace gives the visitors a counter-threat of their own.

Western headline: Sporting KC vs Seattle Sounders

While the Hell is Real derby seizes Eastern headlines, the West offers a pivotal duel at Children’s Mercy Park as Sporting Kansas City host the Seattle Sounders. Serbian forward Dejan Joveljic has scored eight goals in six appearances since arriving on loan, single-handedly reviving SKC’s postseason hopes. Brian Schmetzer’s Sounders, conversely, need a statement road win to reassert themselves amid an inconsistent campaign.

Can Joveljic stay hot?

Seattle’s center-back duo of Jackson Ragen and Yeimar Andrade will face a constant aerial barrage because Alan Pulido’s injury has prompted Peter Vermes to play more direct, funneling crosses toward Joveljic. Yet Seattle retain an edge in midfield balance, with João Paulo’s metronomic passing complemented by Albert Rusnák’s late runs. If the Sounders can limit second-ball chaos, Jordan Morris may find joy attacking space behind Graham Zusi.

Why Matchday 24 could reshape both conferences

Every MLS season turns on a weekend when narratives crystallize. Matchday 24 feels like that inflection point. A Hell is Real derby victory for FC Cincinnati would widen their Shield lead to double digits, effectively allowing Noonan to rotate before CONCACAF Champions Cup fixtures. A Columbus win tightens both the Shield and Eastern title races, energizing a city already dreaming of a second star in five seasons.

In Florida, Messi’s duel with Mukhtar is the league’s marquee individual showdown. Miami’s payroll dwarfs most rivals, yet Nashville exemplifies squad cohesion. The result will influence award conversations—think Landon Donovan MVP—and could set playoff seeding pathways that determine home-field futures.

Out West, Seattle’s pedigree meets Kansas City’s momentum. The Sounders have not missed the playoffs since joining MLS in 2009, but a defeat could drop them below the line with ten matches left. Sporting, meanwhile, have clawed back from a six-game skid and now control destiny. Three points here could transform Joveljic’s loan into one of the league’s smartest summer coups.

MLS Matchday 24 viewing guide

• Hell is Real derby: FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew – Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Inter Miami vs Nashville SC – Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Sporting KC vs Seattle Sounders – Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ET

All fixtures are available on MLS Season Pass.

Storylines beyond the spotlight

• Red Bulls vs D.C. United revives the Atlantic Cup, with both sides desperate for points.
• LAFC travel to Portland where Diego Valeri’s jersey retirement should inspire the Timbers.
• St. Louis City SC host Austin FC in a battle of pressing philosophies.

Opinion: Derbies reveal title mettle

Rivalry games compress form, fatigue, and tactics into raw emotion, and the Hell is Real derby stands as MLS’s purest microcosm of that alchemy. Cincinnati’s rise from expansion strugglers to Shield front-runners has been forged in nights like Saturday’s, when a packed Bailey can tilt the pitch. Columbus, guided by Nancy’s fearless possession creed, relish spoiling parties. Whatever the outcome, the Hell is Real derby guarantees urgency that neutral fans crave and contenders must survive. For MLS, weekends like these validate the league’s parity, proving that every seat—be it in Ohio, Florida, or Kansas—offers a front-row view to unpredictable drama.