'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Columbus Crew and Monterrey will be looking to place one foot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final when they square off at the Lower.com Field in the first leg of their semi-final clash on Wednesday.
Both sides met in the competition’s quarter-finals back in 2021, with the Mexican Liga MX outfit securing a 5-2 aggregate victory.
Columbus Crew turned in a resilient team display in the MLS on Saturday when they fought back from behind twice to salvage a 2-2 draw against Portland Timbers.
However, Wilfried Nancy’s men have gone five consecutive games without a win in the league, losing 2-0 at Charlotte on March 24 before playing out four stalemates in their subsequent four outings.
The Crew now turn their attention to the Champions Cup, where they beat fellow MLS outfit Houston Dynamo 2-1 on aggregate in the round of 16 back in March, before edging out Tigres UANL on penalties in the quarter-finals.
Monterrey, on the other hand, have blitzed their way into the Champions Cup semi-finals, winning all six matches so far while scoring 15 goals and conceding four.
Their biggest result came in the quarter-finals when they beat a Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami home and away to secure a 5-2 aggregate victory.
Monterrey head into Thursday’s game off the back of a 2-0 loss against Club Leon in Liga MX, where a run of one point from their last four games has seen them drop to fourth place in the table.
Columbus Crew vs Monterrey Head-To-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be their third-ever meeting between Columbus Crew and Monterrey, with the Mexican outfit claiming one win and one draw in their previous two encounters.
- Columbus Crew have won just one of their most recent seven outings while claiming five draws and losing once since mid-March.
- Monterrey have failed to win three of their last four outings across all competitions, losing twice and picking up one draw in that time.
- Columbus Crew are unbeaten in their last 14 matches, claiming 10 wins and four draws since August’s penalty-shootout loss to Minnesota United in the Leagues Cup.
Columbus Crew vs Monterrey Prediction
While Monterrey will be looking to continue their fairytale Champions Cup run, they face the stern challenge of a well-drilled Columbus Crew side who are unbeaten at home since August.
The Crew’s home advantage gives them a slight edge and we fancy them to come away with a narrow victory.
Prediction: Columbus Crew 2-1 Monterrey
Columbus Crew vs Monterrey Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Columbus Crew to win
Tip 2: Over 2.5 goals - Yes (There have been three or more goals scored in four of Monterrey’s last five matches)
Tip 3: Both sides to score - Yes (Both sides have also scored in four of the visitors’ last five outings)
