Our prediction for this MLS match:
Columbus Crew
Match Time & Date:
21/09/2023
01:30
Prediction: 2-0
Chicago Fire
Following a 4-3 loss to Orlando City, Columbus Crew will look to return to winning ways in the Major League Soccer when they take on Chicago Fire on Thursday morning. Columbus are eyeing their third consecutive win at home ground and they are seen as hot favourites to beat Chicago at their Lower.com Field. Midfielder William Sands is sidelined with a knee injury, but he should be the only absentee in the home team.
Frank Klopas’ troops, on the other hand, have a chance to climb to the playoffs berth, but given their four-game goalless run in the MLS, we believe that there is a big value in betting on the home team. A man to watch in the away side will be Xherdan Shaqiri, while all Carlos Teran, Kacper Przybylko, Federico Navarro, Javier Casas, and Chris Mueller are out of contention through injuries.
Highlighted Player (Xherdan Shaqiri):
Another impressive player who emigrated to Switzerland, Xherdan Shaqiri is a midfielder with excellent technical qualities, very strong in taking players on and creating chances for his teammates, while also being a danger from set pieces. The Serbian-born footballer formed an excellent midfielder pairing with Granit Xhaka at FC Basel, before making a high-profile move to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2012.
Shaqiri went on to prove a great deal of potential at Allianz Arena, scoring 11 goals in 52 Bundesliga matches, but he decided to leave in search of first team football, first joining Inter Milan and then moving to Stoke City. It was at Britannia Stadium that the attacking midfielder rediscovered his form and if he continues playing at such a high level, it won’t be long before he returns to the biggest stage.
Even when he was not playing regularly at club level, Shaqiri would always reserve his best performances for the national team, as witnessed by 17 goals in first 50 caps. The midfielder was especially impressive at the 2014 World Cup finals, where he scored no fewer than three goals.
Highlighted Team (Columbus Crew):
Columbus Crew are an American soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio. The Black & Gold participate in the Eastern Conference and in 2008 they won both the conference and the MLS CUP final. Columbus Crew defeated New York Red Bulls in the MLS Cup final, with the likes of Moreno, Marshall and Hejduk scoring for the Black & Gold in the title game.
The club welcome their rivals at Mapfre Stadium, the venue which was opened on May, 15 1999. The current capacity of the stadium is 19.968 and it has to be noted that Mapfre Stadium is the first soccer-specific venue ever built for a MLS club.
A number of high-profile players were part of Columbus Crew in the past, but Guillermo Barros Schelotto is the most famous footballer that wore the black and yellow shirt. Schelotto played for Columbus Crew from 2007 to 2010 and during his spell with the Mapfre Stadium outfit the Black & Gold won the aforementioned MLS Cup.
Real Madrid 
Sevilla
Tottenham
Liverpool
Wolfsburg 
Borussia Dortmund
Monza 
Juventus
