COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Columbus Crew is back in the MLS Cup playoffs and will face its in-state rival in the opening round.

FC Cincinnati stands in the Crew's way of making the Eastern Conference semifinals and will look for revenge in the second "Hell is Real" playoff matchup. The series begins Monday at 6:45 p.m. with Game 1 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati before the teams come to Lower.com Field for Game 2 on Sunday.

Although FCC is raring to avenge a 2023 playoff loss to Columbus, the Crew is limping into the postseason. Here is everything to know ahead of this "Hell is Real" playoff series.

Which Crew players could return from injury?

The Crew finished the regular season with 54 points (14 wins, 12 draws and 8 losses) for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, good enough to a

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