New York Red Bulls host Columbus Crew in the MLS Eastern Conference on Saturday.

As we enter matchday four of the season, neither side have made a particularly convincing start to the campaign.

Match preview

The Red Bulls are winless so far, having scored just one goal in their opening three games, courtesy of centre-back Andres Reyes.

An opening day defeat at Orlando City was followed up by draws against both Nashville and Minnesota United.

A mixed off-season saw NYRB lose US international centre-back Aaron Long to LAFC, but they have still remained strong in defence.

It is in attack where Gerhard Struber's side must improve, and they will hope the signing of Dante Vanzeir will provide that clinical edge.

The Belgian striker netted 43 goals in 79 appearances for Europa League contenders Union St. Gilloise, and he has been capped at senior international level.

A similar regular season to that of last year will go down well in New York, as the Red Bulls finished fourth, but they were unable to take any form into the playoffs, losing at the first hurdle to Cincinnati.

Columbus missed out on the playoffs altogether after a heartbreaking defeat on the final day at Orlando saw the Floridians leapfrog them in the final playoff spot.

They are out to avenge that disappointment this season and they have made a relatively better start than their upcoming opponents so far.

Wilfried Nancy's men drew at Toronto after beating DC United the week previously to rid the 4-1 defeat against Philadelphia Union from their minds on the opening weekend.

Argentine-born Armenian Lucas Zelarayan looks set to be the key man in the Columbus side yet again for the 2023 season.

Zelarayan scored both goals in their 2-0 win over DC United, which added to his already brilliant record of 32 goals and 27 assists in 85 MLS appearances since joining from Tigres in 2020.

The 2021 MLS All-Star inductee will be a big miss for Columbus when he is away on international duty with Armenia next week, when the side host Atlanta United.