MLS rivalries renew in Hell is Real Derby and Cascadia Cup; Lionel Messi goes to Montreal

Major League Soccer's defending champion (Columbus Crew) and reigning Supporters' Shield winners (FC Cincinnati) renew acquaintances with the Hell is Real Derby — one of the league's best rivalries* — on Saturday (7:45 p.m. ET on FS1 and Apple TV).

When last they met, Columbus and Cincinnati were engaged in a 120-minute battle royale in the Eastern Conference final. The Crew rallied from two goals down to force stoppage time, and that is when — in the 115th minute — Christian Ramirez scored the winner.

On Sunday (4:45 p.m. ET on FOX), the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders revisit their decidedly unfriendly Cascadia Cup rivalry. This is a rivalry that dates back nearly five decades and includes iterations of the two teams in four different leagues (NASL → A-League → USL First Division → MLS). Both clubs have been on the struggle bus so far this season, but perhaps a scintillating rivalry win can reverse the 2024 fortunes of the victor.

Elsewhere in non-rivalry related matchups, two-time defending MLS player of the week Lionel Messi goes to Canada as high-flying Inter Miami CF takes aim at humbling another foe, CF Montréal. Miami has won four straight, including a 6-2 destruction of the New York Red Bulls, during which Messi broke a league record.

PHILLY PHENOM: 14-year-old Cavan Sullivan signs with Philadelphia Union

WATCH: Messi and Inter Miami travel to take on CF Montreal on Apple TV

TICKETS: Experience Messi and Inter Miami in person on the road in Montreal

SHOP: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami team gear from the MLS store

MLS Matchday 13: What are this weekend's games?

(All games available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.)

Saturday

• Atlanta United vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Charlotte FC vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• CF Montréal vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m. ET
• New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Philadelphia Union vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Toronto FC vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:45 p.m. ET (FS1)
• FC Dallas vs. Austin FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• St. Louis City SC vs. Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 9:30 p.m. ET
• LA Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake, 10:30 p.m. ET
• Los Angeles FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Sunday

• Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 4:45 p.m. ET (FOX)

MLS game of the week: Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati

• Date and time: Saturday at 7:45 p.m. ET
• TV/streaming info: FS1/MLS Season Pass

This isn't just the "game of the week." This is quite possibly the game of the season so far. FC Cincinnati is pushing Inter Miami at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. The Columbus Crew are riding high after a riveting Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal win over Liga MX powerhouse Monterrey. That triumph has thrust the Crew into the top spot of the latest Concacaf Club Rankings.

There's plenty to keep an eye on with these two teams when it comes to the U.S. in international competitions this summer. While FC Cincinnati defenders Miles Robinson and DeAndre Yedlin could play roles for the USMNT in the upcoming Copa America, Crew midfielder Aidan Morris and goalkeeper Patrick Schulte might be representing the U.S. in Paris for the Summer Olympics.

MLS betting odds: Who is favored to win?

Here are the odds for this weekend 's MLS games, according to BetMGM odds.

Atlanta United vs. D.C. United

• Moneyline: ATL (-145), Tie (+310), DC (+310)
• Over/under goals: 3.5

Charlotte FC vs. Nashville SC

• Moneyline: CLT (-105), Tie (+240), NSH (+270)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

CF Montréal vs. Inter Miami CF

• Moneyline: MTL (+230), Tie (+260), MIA (-120)
• Over/under goals: 3.5

New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution

• Moneyline: RBNY (-175), Tie (+320), NE (+425)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

Philadelphia Union vs. Orlando City SC

• Moneyline: PHI (-120), Tie (+270), ORL (+280)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

Toronto FC vs. New York City FC

• Moneyline: TFC (+180), Tie (+240), NYC (+140)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati

• Moneyline: CLB (-120), Tie (+270), CIN (+280)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

FC Dallas vs. Austin FC

• Moneyline: DAL (-105), Tie (+240), ATX (+270)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo FC

• Moneyline: SKC (+110), Tie (+230), HOU (+240)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

St. Louis City SC vs. Chicago Fire FC

• Moneyline: STL (-130), Tie (+290), CHI (+310)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes

• Moneyline: COL (-135), Tie (+290), SJ (+310)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

LA Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake

• Moneyline: LAG (-110), Tie (+280), RSL (+240)
• Over/under goals: 3.5

Los Angeles FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

• Moneyline: LAFC (-165), Tie (+320), VAN (+380)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC

• Moneyline: POR (+145), Tie (+250), SEA (+160)
• Over/under goals: 2.5

According to BetMGM, Inter Miami CF (+185) is the current favorite to win the 2024 league championship, followed by Los Angeles FC (+1000), FC Cincinnati (+1000), LA Galaxy (+1400), Columbus Crew (+1400), Real Salt Lake (+1600), New York Red Bulls (+1600) and Philadelphia Union (+1600).

Where can you watch MLS games?

All Major League Soccer games air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Some select games are available for free on Apple TV and viewers only need an Apple ID to watch.

Where can you watch MLS games on TV?

FOX Sports will air select games on linear television.

*MLS rivalry power rankings

You didn't ask, but here's just one humble writer's ranking of the top five MLS rivalries (note: these rankings can be fluid based on factors such as stakes and star power, and will be updated accordingly) …

1. El Tráfico: Los Angeles FC vs. LA Galaxy — It's amazing how many soccer fans in Los Angeles have just flat out rejected the Galaxy, despite the team's success in the early years of the league.
2. Cascadia Cup¹: Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC — Probably the best overall rivalry in MLS, but the usually high-level stakes just aren't there at the moment.
3. Hell is Real Derby: Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati — Speaking of stakes, this rivalry probably has the highest at the moment. Bonus points for the cool origin story.
4. Canadian Classique: CF Montréal vs. Toronto FC — Old-timey hockey hostilities from the Montreal Canadiens-Toronto Maple Leafs rivalry have carried over to the soccer football brethren.
5. Hudson River Derby: New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls — This rivalry isn't on par with that of the more-celebrated big-city derby on the West Coast, but it does boast the soccer version of "The Red Wedding."

Honorable mention: Nicest Rivalry In Sports: Minnesota United FC vs. Sporting Kansas City — Midwesterners are known for their general kindness, hence the name (plus, these two teams have scant history between each other outside of a Minnesota United 2020 playoff win over SKC). This rivalry might be too nice to make the power rankings, but the name is just plain fun.

¹The Cascadia Cup is an actual trophy that is awarded to the team that has the best record in the season series, which also includes the Vancouver Whitecaps, whose rivalry with Portland and Seattle is heated but not quite as brewing with animosity as Portland-Seattle. This three-team rivalry dates back to the old NASL.

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