Columbus Crew will aim to extend their unbeaten streak to six games when the New York Red Bulls visit Lower.com Field on Saturday.
Having dispatched Nashville SC last time out, the hosts occupy fifth place in the Eastern Conference, while the visitors find themselves eight points behind in 11th.
Match preview
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It would not be unfair to say that Columbus experienced an indifferent start to the 2023 Major League Soccer campaign, as they recorded five wins, three draws and six losses across their opening 14 matches.
Since then, however, the Ohio outfit have registered four wins and one draw, securing successive victories over the Colorado Rapids, Charlotte FC and Chicago Fire before defeating Nashville SC 2-0 last time out.
In addition to taking 13 points from a possible 15 since their last loss, Columbus have netted 12 goals across their past five outings, putting three past Colorado before thrashing Charlotte 4-2.
Thanks largely to those high-scoring victories, the Crew are now the top scorers in the entire league, having bagged 38 goals in 19 matches, with key playmaker Lucas Zelarayan notching eight goals and six assists in 16 MLS appearances this term.
It is also worth noting that Columbus have been immense on home soil throughout 2023, recording seven wins, two draws and one loss at Lower.com Field, and they enter Saturday's clash on the back of four successive home victories.
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The New York Red Bulls head to Ohio on the back of a shock 4-0 victory over Atlanta United, with substitute Frankie Amaya coming off the bench to bag a late brace and complete the rout.
Before last weekend's triumph, the Red Bulls had netted a measly 13 goals in 18 games, underlining their offensive struggles, but they have now scored more goals than two teams in the league – LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids.
At the opposite end of the pitch, however, Troy Lesesne's side boast the second-best defensive record in the Eastern Conference, as they have conceded just 18 goals to keep pace with the playoff chasers.
When the Red Bulls picked up a solitary victory across their opening 11 MLS clashes – recording six draws and four losses in the process – Lesesne's men looked destined to miss out on a playoff berth.
However, RBNY have turned things around since then, recording four wins, two draws and two losses in their previous eight encounters, and they also managed to claim their first road victory of the season earlier this month, overcoming Inter Miami in Florida.
Team News
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The Columbus Crew will have to make do without the injured Will Sands (knee) for the foreseeable future, while Australian defender Milos Degenek (ankle) is a doubt for Saturday's clash.
Wilfried Nancy will likely continue with a 3-4-1-2 formation, meaning that Lucas Zelarayan will operate in the space behind Christian Ramirez and Cucho Hernandez, who has bagged four goals and five assists in 13 MLS outings this year.
As for New York Red Bulls, they are currently without the injured trio of Serge Ngoma (hamstring), Lewis Morgan (hip) and Steven Sserwadda (knee), while Dante Vanzeir (hamstring) and Dylan Nealis (groin) are doubts for this weekend.
On top of that, defender John Tolkin and forward Cory Burke are away on CONCACAF Gold Cup duty, representing the United States and Jamaica, respectively.
Troy Lesesne will be tempted to stick with the same XI that started last weekend's hugely impressive victory over Atlanta United, meaning that Tom Barlow and Elias Manoel should lead the line in a 4-2-2-2 formation.
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Zawadzki, Moreira, Amundsen; Farsi, Matan, Nagbe, Yeboah; Zelarayan; Ramirez, Hernandez
New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Carlos; Harper, Reyes, Nealis, Duncan; Edelman, Casseres Jr; Yearwood, Luquinhas; Barlow, Manoel
We say: Columbus Crew 2-0 New York Red Bulls
Of course, Columbus Crew are the leading scorers in Major League Soccer, but New York Red Bulls possess the second-best defensive record in the league.
Given that Columbus have won four of their last five matches, we expect the hosts to claim all three points at Lower.com Field, but we are not likely to see a high-scoring victory.
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Top tip
Ben Morris
