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

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 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 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:

Columbus Crew form (all competitions):

Chicago Fire Major League Soccer form:

Team News

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

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.

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