Our prediction for this MLS match:
Columbus Crew
Match Time & Date:
09/03/2024
07:30 PM
Prediction: 2-0
Chicago Fire
Sunday’s football game at Lower.com Field pits together Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire. The hosts made a promising start to the season, with the team beating Atlanta United at home, while sharing the spoils with Minnesota United on the road and they are seen as hot favourites to win Sunday’s clash. A man to keep an eye in the home team will be Cucho Hernandez, who has already netted two goals in the 2024 MLS campaign.
Chicago Fire, meanwhile, produced an under-par performance in a 2-1 loss to Cincinnati, which is yet another reason why we are going to bet on the home team. All Andrew Gutman, Bryan Dowd, Javier Casas, and Victor Bezerra are out of contention with injuries for the visiting side. You should bear in mind that Columbus Crew recorded a routine 3-0 win over Chicago Fire in their last meeting at Lower.com Field.
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.
Southampton
Liverpool
Ipswich
Manchester United
Napoli
AS Roma
Leganes
Real Madrid
Lazio 
Bologna 
Nice 
Strasbourg 
