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Columbus Crew
Major League Soccer
Jun 25, 2023 at 12.30am UK
MAPFRE Stadium
Nashville

Columbus Crew
2 - 0
Nashville

Ramirez (20'), Maher (90+5' og.)
Moreira (58')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Williams (60')

Preview: Columbus Crew vs. Nashville SC - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between Columbus Crew and Nashville SC, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Nashville SC make the journey north to Ohio to lock horns with Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field for an Eastern Conference clash in MLS on Sunday.

While the visitors are seeking to bounce back from defeat last time out, the hosts are hoping to extend their unbeaten run to five matches.


Match preview

Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy looks on on June 18, 2023© Reuters

After winning three successive MLS matches, Columbus Crew were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw away against New York City FC last Saturday.

The Crew appeared to be heading for a slender victory after Christian Ramirez had opened the scoring early in the second half with his seventh goal of the campaign, but a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser from Gabriel Segal rescued a point for the hosts.

Just past the halfway point in the campaign, Wilfried Nancy finds his team sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference table, three points clear of eighth-placed Montreal CF who sit just outside the Final Series qualification spots.

Columbus Crew have been one of the most prolific teams in MLS so far this season, scoring a total of 36 goals and netting in 17 of their 18 matches – only Atalanta United (37) have scored more across either Conference division.

However, the Ohio-based outfit have failed win any of their last five meetings with Nashville and drew a blank in front of goal in their last two home encounters, including a 1-0 loss in April last year.

Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar (10) celebrates with teammates on June 18, 2023© Reuters

Nashville's club-record 10-game unbeaten run in MLS, including seven wins and three draws, has come to an end courtesy of a narrow 1-0 defeat at Montreal on Thursday.

A first-half strike from Bryce Duke condemned Gary Smith's side to their fourth loss of the campaign and their first defeat since mid-April, and they now find themselves some way behind league leaders Cincinnati.

Indeed, Nashville remain second in the Eastern Conference but sit eight points behind Cincinnati who have a game in hand; third-placed New England Revolution, meanwhile, can leapfrog Smith's men into second if they win their game in hand.

Nevertheless, Nashville are still enjoying their best-ever MLS season after picking up 35 points from 19 matches, surpassing their previous record of 31 points accumulated at the same stage in 2021.

The Tennessee-based outfit, who boast the best defensive record in MLS having only conceded 14 goals all season, will be confident of returning to winning ways on Sunday as they have already beaten Columbus Crew this term, securing a 3-1 victory on home soil in May.

Columbus Crew Major League Soccer form:

Nashville SC Major League Soccer form:


Team News

Columbus Crew forward Christian Ramirez (17) celebrates his goal on June 18, 2023© Reuters

Columbus Crew quintet Josh Williams (ankle), Milos Degenek (Achilles), Will Sands (knee) Gustavo Vallecilla (muscle) and Luis Diaz (back) all remain sidelined with injuries, while USA's Aidan Morris and Canada's Jacen Russell-Rowe are away on international duty at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

However, the visitors could be boosted by the return of first-choice goalkeeper Eloy Room and key playmaker Lucas Zelarayan, who have concluded their international spells with Curacao and Armenia respectively and may be involved on Sunday.

Club-record signing Cucho Hernandez has contributed with three goals and four assists in his last eight matches and the Colombian is expected to continue in attack alongside Christian Ramirez and either Zelarayan or Alexandru Matan.

As for Nashville, Nick DePuy and Lukas MacNaughton are sidelined with respective Achillies and groin injuries, while Panama's Anibal Godoy and Haiti's Fafa Picault are both away on international duty at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

After winning the CONCACAF Nations League with USA on Monday, Walker Zimmerman featured as a second-half substitute in the loss to Montreal on Thursday and the centre-back will be pushing to start alongside Jack Maher against Columbus Crew.

Last year's MVP Hany Mukhtar, who has contributed with 13 goals and six assists in 19 MLS games so far this season, is set to continue in attack alongside Jacob Shaffelburg, who is hoping to end his nine-game goal drought on Sunday.


Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Room; Zawadzki, Moreira, Amundsen; Farsi, Zawadzki, Nagbe, Yeboah; Matan, Ramirez; Hernandez

Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Moore, Zimmerman, Maher, Lovitz; McCarthy; Muyl, Gregus, Davis; Mukhtar, Shaffelburg


SM words green background

We say: Columbus Crew 1-2 Nashville SC

Columbus Crew have won each of their last three MLS home games, scoring nine goals in the process, and they will be hoping to take advantage of Nashville's minor wobble last time out.

However, the visitors will have belief in their abilities to bounce back having won their last two meetings with the Crew, and the fine form of star man Mukhtar could help them come out on top in Ohio.

How to watch

You can watch Columbus Crew vs. Nashville SC and every MLS match this season live on Apple TV. Click here for more details on how to subscribe.

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

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Columbus Crew vs Nashville

Columbus Crew
23.5%
Draw
23.5%
Nashville SC
52.9%
17
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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