The defending champions of MLS, Real Salt Lake, continue their difficult start to the season visiting the Columbus Crew at 7:30 tonight.

After an easy win over San Jose in their first match, Jason Kreis' club has only taken one point from three games against top Western Conference teams (losses to Houston and Los Angeles, draw with Seattle). After tonight, RSL comes home for four of their next five matches and will try to start up the momentum going into that strecth tonight.

The Crew are playing in their third game of the season, the fewest of all MLS clubs. After beating Toronto in the first weekend, Robert Warzycha's club drew with FC Dallas 2-2 two weeks ago at Pizza Hut Park. The squad should be at full strength and healthy with the exception of defenders Shaun Francis and Chad Marshall.

RSL players have picked up some injuries in the early season. Both Ned Grabavoy and Chris Wingert are out for tonight's game and Robbie Findlay, Jamison Olave and Javier Morales are all on the injury report but should play.

There is plenty of top-class players on the pitch tonight at Columbus Crew Stadium, posing some interesting battles at a variety of positions.

Matchup To Watch:

Kyle Beckerman (RSL) vs. Guillermo Barros Schelotto (CLB)

Both midfielders are the heart and soul of their respective teams and should go up against each other quite a bit tonight. Both players need to connect to the men up front to get goal attempts. Schelotto also has the skill to break free and score himself. Schelotto could start up front tonight also.

Starting Lineups:

Real Salt Lake:

Nick Rimando (GK)

Robbie Russell, Jamison Olave, Nat Borchers, Tony Beltran (DF)

Will Johnson, Kyle Beckerman, Andy Williams, Collen Warner (MF)

Alvaro Saborio, Fabian Espindola (FW)

Columbus Crew:

Will Hesmer (GK)

Gino Padula, Andy Iro, Eric Brunner, Frankie Hejduk (DF)

Robbie Rogers, Adam Moffat, Brian Carroll, Eddie Gaven (MF)

Steven Lenhart, Guillermo Barros Schelotto (FW)

Players to Watch:

Real Salt Lake:

Kyle Beckerman, Nick Rimando, Andy Williams, Collen Warner, Jamison Olave

Beckerman and Rimando are on this list for obvious reasons. Williams and Warner will be part of the midfield battle and trying to contain the middle four for Columbus will be a task they need to handle. Olave just needs to have a solid game, he really has not played up to his abilities so far this season and has a chance to improve his form tonight.

Columbus:

Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Gino Padula, Frankie Hejduk, Adam Moffat, Steven Lenhart

Schelotto is the main goal scorer and will need to get on the board tonight. If he fails, the young Lenhart needs to get shots on goal and challenge Rimando in net. Moffat will be part of the midfield battle that will dictate the game and with Schelotto up front, Moffat will have the task of dealing with Beckerman tonight. Padula and Hejduk are two of the best fullbacks in the league. Both play with heart and try to get up the wing for all ninety minutes.

Prediction: Real Salt Lake 1-1 Columbus

This might even be a goalless draw, but it all depends on how the midfield battle goes.

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