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[monks data]
Columbus Crew
Major League Soccer
Mar 10, 2024 at 12.30am UK
MAPFRE Stadium
Chicago Fire

Columbus Crew
2 - 1
Chicago Fire

Russell-Rowe (68'), Farsi (90+10')
Amundsen (90+1')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Herbers (72')
Arigoni (13'), Barlow (90+4')

Preview: Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Columbus Crew will be looking to continue their unbeaten start to the MLS season when they host Chicago Fire on Sunday, who are still looking to get their first win of the campaign.

Wilfried Nancy's side won their first game before drawing with Minnesota United last week, while the visitors have drawn one and lost one in their opening two games.


Match preview

Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy on February 24, 2024© Reuters

Columbus Crew come into this season as the reigning MLS champions after they beat Los Angeles FC 2-1 in the 2023 MLS playoff final, which made history for coach Nancy in his first season at the club, and they will be hoping to create more in this coming season.

Nancy moved from CF Montreal to Columbus in December 2022 and guided his side to third in the Eastern Conference before going on to win the MLS Cup, which also saw Nancy become the first-ever black coach to lift the trophy in only his third season in management.

Last season's victory took Columbus to three MLS Cups in total, and they will now be looking to move on to level terms with DC United on four and eventually catching Los Angeles Galaxy's five MLS Cups.

If they are to do this then they will be relying on their top scorer from last season, Cucho Hernandez, to have another fantastic campaign this time around. The Colombian netted 21 times in 33 appearances in 2023, including the opening strike in the playoff final against LAFC.

The good news for Columbus is that the striker appears to have carried on from where he left off as Hernandez has scored in both of their opening two games so far this season.

Chicago Fire's season has started in stark contrast to Columbus', drawing their opening game after Philadelphia Union equalised in added time before falling to defeat against FC Cincinnati in their previous outing.

Chicago Fire FC head coach Frank Klopas shouts on March 5, 2024© Reuters

Chicago would have hoped for a better start to their campaign after they failed for the sixth straight year to qualify for the playoffs. Instead, Frank Klopas's side are still looking for their first three points to kickstart their season.

According to the history between these two teams, a win for Chicago against Columbus is highly unlikely, as the visitors have not beaten the Black and Gold since a 1-0 home win in 2021, while they have failed to beat them at Columbus' home stadium since a penalty victory in 2018.

After winning just four games away from home in the entirety of last season, this becomes a dauntingly difficult task for Chicago and leaves them as huge underdogs coming into the game.

Columbus Crew Major League Soccer form:
  • W
  • D


Columbus Crew form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • W


Chicago Fire Major League Soccer form:
  • D
  • L


Team News

Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernandez (9) celebrates on February 24, 2024© Reuters

Columbus Crew come into the game with a clean bill of health, leaving Nancy likely to start the same side as in their previous MLS outing against Minnesota.

Hernandez has scored Columbus' only two goals of the league season so far, and his side will be looking to him once again to score the goals and help keep their undefeated start going.

Unlike Columbus, Chicago Fire will be carrying four injuries into this game.

Bryan Dowd, Javier Casas and Victor Bezerra are all out until later this month with leg injuries sustained throughout February.

Another player who should be returning in the coming weeks is Andrew Gutman, who is carrying a hamstring injury.


Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen; Arfsten, Nagbe, Morris, Yeboah; Matan, Rossi; Hernandez

Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Arigoni, Pineda, Czichos; Haile-Selassie, Gimenez, Acosta, Herbers; Shaqiri, Cuypers, Gutierrez


SM words green background

We say: Columbus Crew 2-1 Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire have failed to beat Columbus Crew in all of their last five meetings, while they have been unable to win at the hosts' home stadium since 2018. With Columbus winning four of the last five, scoring at least two in all of these victories, we believe they will go on to win this one 2-1.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: Columbus Crew vs Chicago Fire

Columbus Crew
100%
Draw
0.0%
Chicago Fire
0.0%
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami1163226161021
2FC CincinnatiCincinnati10532129318
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5Columbus Crew10361129315
6New York City FCNY City104241110114
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9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta9333139412
10CF MontrealMontreal93331216-412
11Charlotte FCCharlotte FC103251013-311
12Chicago Fire102441118-710
13Orlando City92341117-69
14Nashville SCNashville91531017-78
15New England RevolutionNew England9117618-124

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1Real Salt LakeSalt Lake10532179818
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6Colorado RapidsColorado104331615115
7Austin FCAustin104331413115
8Houston DynamoHouston9414910-113
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10Sporting Kansas CityKansas102531818011
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12Dallas9225912-38
13Seattle SoundersSeattle91351011-16
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes101181425-114


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