Aston Villa’s tour of the USA kicks up a gear when the team play the first of three Stateside friendlies on Saturday.
Unai Emery’s squad take on Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field (8pm KO local time), a match which will be streamed live on VillaTV+.
Ahead of the game in Ohio, we take a closer look at The Crew and their history, the weekend’s venue and what Villa fans can expect from a trip to Columbus…
Columbus Crew are the reigning MLS Cup champions after picking up a third title in 2023.
The Crew beat Los Angeles FC 2-1 in the final to move into third on the list of all-time winners, leaving them behind only LA Galaxy (5) and DC United (4).
Managed by Wilfried Nancy, Columbus have followed their title-winning campaign up strongly and they currently sit third in the Eastern Conference standings with 11 games left.
Five of the club’s players were involved in the recent MLS All-Star Game, with striker Cucho Hernandez finding the net.
Villa fans may remember him from the first day of the 2021/22 season when he scored for Watford in a 3-2 loss at Vicarage Road.
Uruguay international Diego Rossi, who signed from Fenerbahçe last year, is another of The Crew’s star players, and he’s scored nine and assisted seven this season.
Built in 2021 at an estimated cost of $314 million, the stadium houses a maximum capacity of 20,371 supporters.
Five USA national team games have been played at the ground, with two men’s and three women’s internationals held there.
Villa fans heading to the game can find out everything they need to know about the stadium and its facilities here.
Columbus is the state capital of Ohio and is home to just under one million people.
Fans of college football in the States will be familiar with Ohio State University, known as the Buckeyes, who are one of the most successful teams in the country.
Named after explorer Christopher Columbus, the city’s sporting roots extend to an NHL team, Columbus Blue Jackets, and a minor league baseball team, Columbus Clippers.
Franklin Park Conservatory, which houses world-class horticulture, art and nature-based exhibitions, is among the top attractions for Villa fans to visit, while there are also a number of museums for those wanting to take in some history.
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