Looking to extend their active eight-game unbeaten run, Columbus Crew play host to New England Revolution at the Lower.com Field on Sunday.
On the other hand, the visitors make the journey to Ohio this weekend aiming to put an end to a run of four matches since their last victory.
Match preview
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Columbus Crew secured a victory in front of their fans for the first time since May 1 courtesy of a routine 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati on Monday.
Caleb Porter's men broke the deadlock in the first half through Cucho before Lucas Zelarayan put the game to bed three minutes from time.
As a result, the Black and Gold have leapfrogged the aforementioned Cincinnati into sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Next up is the challenge of an opposing outfit with just one victory in the most recent nine meetings between the teams dating back to 2018.
Having recorded clean sheets in three of their last five home outings, Sunday's hosts have the joint second-best defensive record so far, and they will be seeking to use that as a platform to build upon.
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New England Revolution suffered a second straight defeat as they were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Philadelphia Union at the Subaru Park on Sunday.
Bruce Arena's men took the lead just shy of the hour mark through Gustavo Bou, but late strikes from Mikael Uhre and Daniel Gazdag turned the game around.
With just two points amassed from the last 12 available, the Revs have dropped down to 10th in the Eastern Conference standings, two points behind the last playoff spot.
Currently with the leakiest defence away from home this term, Sunday's visitors have some tightening up to do at the back as they go in search of what would only be a fourth win on the road since the turn of the year.
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Team News
Artur is set to miss this weekend's contest as the Columbus Crew midfielder continues to nurse an ankle injury which he picked up in June.
Since his arrival from Watford, Cucho has hit the ground running with four goals in his opening three appearances and will be looking to deliver the goods once again.
Gustavo Bou is one to keep an eye on here, with the New England Revolution man aiming to find the back of the net for the fourth straight match.
Thirty-year-old Andrew Farrell has served his one-game suspension in the defeat to Philadelphia Union last time out and is now eligible to feature once again.
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Room; Santos, Williams, Mensah, Moreira; Nagbe, Morris; Diaz, Zelarayan, Etienne; Cucho
New England Revolution possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Jones, Kessler, Farrell, Bye; Kaptoum, McNamara; Lletget, Gil, Borrero; Bou
We say: Columbus Crew 2-1 New England Revolution
Columbus Crew have enjoyed the better of this fixture of late, and coupled with the advantage of playing on their own patch, we are backing them to get the job done, albeit by a narrow margin.
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