On Saturday night, Columbus Crew host New York Red Bulls at MAPFRE Stadium in a crucial Eastern Conference clash in MLS.
The two teams are currently in the play-off spots in third and fourth place in the standings respectively. The Crew are four points ahead of the visitors, but the New York outfit have three games in-hand on their hosts.
Columbus are currently unbeaten in eight MLS outings. However, four of those games have finished in draws, including their last two league outings against Sporting KC and Toronto.
The Crew have lost just one of their last 17 MLS outings on home soil and they are five games unbeaten at the MAPFRE Stadium. The home side has been prolific on home soil in MLS of late, scoring at least two goals in six of their last eight league outings on home turf.
The Red Bulls recent form in MLS has stalled slightly, as a draw against Philadelphia and a defeat at New England last time out ended a four-game winning run.
The visitor’s recent MLS games have certainly offered value for money when it comes to goals, as nine of their last ten games in the US top-flight have produced over 2.5 goals. Both teams have also scored in seven of their last nine MLS outings.
Jesse Marsch’s team have a mixed recent record on their travels in MLS, winning three and losing three of their last six outings on the road. The team from the Big Apple have been prolific on the road of late in MLS, scoring at least two goals in their last five outings. Their potency in front of goal has led to over 2.5 goals being scored in their last five away games in the US top-flight.
This should be an exciting clash between two good teams. Forebet predicts that Columbus will come out on top in a high scoring game to enhance their chances of a top-two finish in the Eastern Conference.