Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders lock horns in Major League Soccer for the first time since 2021, with the Crew in red-hot form and the Sounders looking to bounce back from recent defeats.
The Crew have won their last eight competitive matches across all competitions, while the Sounders have lost their last two.
Match preview
Columbus have been in impressive form since August, culminating in a 3-1 victory over Los Angeles FC to lift the Leagues Cup for the first time.
They continued their winning ways in MLS, picking up a 1-0 win over Philadelphia Union before a convincing 4-2 victory over New York City FC last weekend.
Wilfried Nancy's men currently sit third in the Eastern Conference with 49 points, two points behind second-placed FC Cincinnati and 10 behind table-toppers Inter Miami, although they have played two games fewer than both teams.
Their defensive solidity has been key to their good performances, conceding just 24 goals – the second-best record in the league – while offensively, they are only behind league leaders Inter Miami who have scored 62 goals, having netted 52 goals in 25 MLS matches themselves.
The Crew have even found the back of the net in every competitive fixture since a 3-0 defeat to Pachuca in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final back in June, scoring three or more goals in six of their last seven home encounters.
Columbus have won nine consecutive matches across all competitions heading into this weekend's clash, including a 4-1 friendly victory over Aston Villa in late July – however, their last meeting with the Sounders at Lower.com Field resulted in a 2-1 defeat.
In stark contrast to the home side, Seattle Sounders come into this match on the back of two straight defeats across all competitions.
The Sounders lost 1-0 to both Los Angeles FC in the US Open Cup on August 29, and Portland Timbers in their most recent MLS outing.
After a strong run of six wins and a draw between mid-June and mid-July, Brian Schmetzer's side have lost two of their last three league matches, leaving them in danger of losing out on an automatic post-season slot.
With 40 points from 27 matches, Seattle occupy eighth place in the Western Conference, currently in the first playoff spot, behind sixth-placed Portland and seventh-placed Houston Dynamo due to an inferior goal difference.
Historically, the visitors have enjoyed their trips to Columbus, winning five games, drawing one, and losing only three of their nine visits.
Team News
Columbus Crew will remain without reserve goalkeeper Evan Bush due to a wrist injury that he picked up earlier in the campaign.
Cucho Hernandez, who has been involved in 22 goals this season (13 goals, nine assists), is expected to start upfront alongside Christian Ramirez.
Diego Rossi, who was on the scoresheet last time out, taking his tally to 21 goal contributions in 25 MLS appearances, is likely to start behind the attacking duo.
The Sounders will remain without midfielder Braudilio Rodrigues due to a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him sidelined until mid-September.
Young winger Georgi Minoungou, who recently joined from Tacoma Defiance, could make his first start after coming off the bench in the last two matches.
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen; Farsi, Nagbe, Matan, DeJuan Jones; Rossi; Ramirez, Hernandez
Seattle Sounders possible starting lineup:
Thomas; A Roldan, Gomez, Ragen, Tolo; Vargas, Paulo; C Roldan, Rusnak, Rothrock; Morris
We say: Columbus Crew 2-0 Seattle Sounders
Columbus Crew are currently on a strong run of form, demonstrating both defensive resilience and attacking prowess – their combination of solid defence and goal-scoring ability is likely to prove too much for Seattle Sounders, who have struggled to find the net in their last two matches while conceding goals.
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