Kevin Denkey insisted the rest of FC Cincinnati's regular-season matches need to look like playoff games as they prepare to take on rivals Columbus Crew this weekend.

The TQL Stadium is the venue for the latest instalment of the Hell is Real derby, with both sides aiming to boost their hopes of reaching the postseason in 2026.

Cincinnati were beaten 3-2 by the New England Revolution in midweek, with Tom Barlow's opener cancelled out by a Dor Turgeman brace and Joshua Wynder's strike.

It's a result that leaves Pat Noonan's side ninth in the Eastern Conference and three points ahead of New York City FC as the end of the regular season draws nearer.

"We need to take points. We need to win. It's against Columbus, we need to win," Denkey said of Cincinnati's clash with Columbus. "I'm not even looking at it as a derby.

"We just need to win games and not lose games and take points to go to the playoffs. There is urgency. These games need to look like playoff games from us." 

Noonan, however, bemoaned his team's inability to follow up their 3-1 win against Atlanta United against New England, adding consistency would be key down the final stretch.

"Disappointing follow-up to what was a strong road win, and just can't carry momentum in back-to-back games, and certainly in front of our home crowd," Noonan conceded.

"It hurts losing. Forget having to push late to try to find a win. We need to find ways to not have to push so much towards the end and take as much risk by conceding less goals. At this stage, we need to defend in a better way and not rely on late dramatics to carry us."

https://t.co/hWTRYvHBlR

— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) October 16, 2026

Columbus come into the clash after a statement victory, beating Charlotte FC 3-1 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field to stay within touching distance of the postseason places.

Idan Toklomati had given Charlotte a 17th-minute lead, but Brais Mendez's left-footed finish into the bottom-right corner hauled Columbus level just before the break. 

And two goals in two minutes from Anass Zaroury and Taha Habroune turned the game on its head, with the Crew now four points behind ninth-place Cincinnati in the East.

Laurent Courtois lauded his team for their display, describing their victory as an "incredible performance", highlighting his team's togetherness in both attack and defence. 

"Obviously, they had an incredible performance," interim head coach Courtois said. "Really happy because they worked hard and they try a lot. Yeah, it's good to see.

"We tried to put in a structure where they could express their best individual quality. A lot of players can go forward and have the quality to create chances and score.

"You want to keep a balance and structure where we are solid defensively, too. Last time out they did both, so it was great."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cincinnati – Kevin Denkey

Denkey (six) and Tom Barlow (three) have combined to score nine of Cincinnati's last 10 regular-season goals dating back to September 12, including the last seven in a row.

Both players have scored at least once in each of Cincinnati's last two matches, though Denkey is the club's top scorer in the MLS in 2026 with 17, four more than Evander.

Columbus Crew – Brais Mendez

But Columbus have a dynamic duo of their own in Mendez and Habroune, who have each scored in the club's last two matches.

One of Mendez or Habroune has scored five of the Crew's last eight goals dating back to September 19, and they will be hoping to have a similar impact here.

Picked it off and punished ‘em https://t.co/KGzLTDR2vl

— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) October 15, 2026

MATCH PREDICTION: CINCINNATI WIN

Including last season's playoffs, Cincinnati and the Crew have alternated wins over the last five meetings, with Columbus recording a 2-1 home win in July. The only time either team won multiple regular-season matches against the other in a single season was the Crew in 2020 (two wins in four meetings).

Cincinnati's defeat to New England took the total number of goals scored in their matches this regular season to 128 (68 scored, 60 conceded), an average of 4.6 per match. The most goals scored and conceded by a club in a single MLS season is 136 by Inter Miami in 2025.

Columbus, meanwhile, have won four of their last five matches in all competitions (L1) after losing seven of the previous eight (W1). Only one of those four wins has come on the road as the Crew have failed to win nine of their last 10 away from home (D2 L7).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Cincinnati – 45%

Draw – 26.9%

Columbus Crew – 28.1%