As we enter the final 10 matches of the 2023 MLS season, FC Cincinnati will be looking to take a step closer to securing the Eastern Conference title when they head to Lower.com Field to take on Columbus Crew on Monday.
Both sides come into this match after being knocked out of the Leagues Cup on penalties in the round of 32, with the hosts losing to Minnesota United while Nashville sent the visitors packaging.
Match preview
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Before the cup break, the Crew conceded a 3-2 loss to the Portland Timbers, which brought an end to an eight-match unbeaten streak and also resulted in them dropping a place in the standings from fifth to sixth.
Still, they are well on course to better their eighth-placed finish from last season, and with 36 points posted, they are only four points behind Philadelphia in third and also four above Chicago, who are the first side outside the final series automatic qualification places.
Wilfried Nancy's side have recorded 10 wins, six draws and seven losses in their 23 matches to date and are unbeaten in their last seven MLS home matches, which includes five wins and two draws.
Of the 29 teams spanning both coasts, Columbus currently possess the third-best home record of 27 points taken from a possible 36 and have only conceded one loss at Lower.com Field this season.
Despite bowing out of the cup competition, Columbus will be fairly satisfied with their performance so far this season and will now reset their focus on ending the season in the final series qualification spots.
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Meanwhile, after finishing fifth in 2022, Cincinnati have been formidable in the MLS this year and return to league action this week with a sizeable gap separating them from the chasing pack.
Pat Noonan's side are currently in pole position in the Eastern Conference with 51 points after 23 matches and are eight points clear of the New England Revolution in second place.
The visitors have recorded 15 wins, six draws and just two losses to date and come into this fixture unbeaten in their last four league matches, including consecutive wins over the Red Bulls and Nashville in their last two fixtures before the Leagues Cup matches.
However, while they have got themselves into a commanding position in the league, the one aspect that they will look to improve in the final stages of the season will be their away form which currently ranks third in the MLS.
In 11 matches on the road this season, Cincinnati have secured 13 points from a possible 33, with a record of four wins, five draws and two losses, scoring 15 goals but conceding 17 in that time.
While Cincinnati did win the reverse fixture 3-2 back in May on their home patch, they will know that this will be a much more difficult assignment, having failed to win a match at this venue since October 2020.
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Team News
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Nancy's side came through the cup fixtures with no new injury concerns, though longer-term absentee William Sands is still unavailable and likely to remain sidelined until the end of the month.
Cucho Hernandez has already recorded 10 assists and five goals in the league, and he will be hoping to return to the starting 11 alongside Christian Ramirez after missing the defeat against Portland.
Noonan has three injury absentees on his hands, with Yuya Kubo (hamstring), Dominique Badji and Gerardo Valenzuela (both leg) all ruled out until next month.
Luciano Acosta has been incredible for the visitors this season, currently second in the goalscoring charts on 12, just one behind Hany Mukhtar, while he has also notched up eight assists and will almost certainly take his place in the number 10 role.
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Zawadzki, Moreira, Amundsen; Farsi, Morris, Nagbe, Yeboah, Zelarrayan; Hernandez, Ramirez
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Hagglund, Miazga, Mosquera; Arias, Nwobodo, Moreno, Barreal, Acosta; Santos, Vazquez
We say: Columbus Crew 2-2 FC Cincinnati
While the visitors have been the best team in the league this season, they are not as dominant on their travels as they are back home. The Crew, on the other hand, have one of the best home records in the league this season, and we fancy them to take a share of the spoils in this one.
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Top tip
Devesh Jaganath
