Our prediction for this MLS match:
Orlando City
Match Time & Date:
05/09/2021
01:30
Prediction: 2-0
Columbus Crew
Orlando City play host to Columbus Crew at their Exploria Stadium on Sunday morning. The Lions have been impressive at the back of late, with the team eyeing their third consecutive clean sheet, and they are likely to rely on their solid defence against Columbus. Despite failing to convert a penalty in a goalless draw with Inter Miami, defender Tesho Akindele should keep his place in the starting XI, while all Mendez, Pato, and Rossell are out of contention through injuries.
The Crew, on the other hand, quickly bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Seattle Sounders, with the team beating FC Cincinnati 3-2 in their last league match. Columbus, though, are on a three-game losing run on the road, and that is the main reason why we are tempted to put our money on the hosts. All Artur, Hairston, Kitchen, Morris, Valenzuela, Williams, and Zardes have been struggling with injuries of late.
Highlighted Player (Nani):
Nani is a product of Sporting CP’s famous youth academy. The pacey winger played 58 games for the capital club in Primeira Liga, scoring nine goals and in 2007 he joined Premier League side Manchester United. He signed a five-year deal with the Old Trafford outfit for a fee of €25.5 million.
He joined his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo at Man Utd and it has to be noted that Nani he spent eight seasons at the club. In 2014 he returned to Sporting (loan) and at the end of the 2014/2015 Primeira Liga campaign he moved to Turkish side Fenerbahce.
In 2016 he signed a three-year deal with Valencia for an undisclosed fee. Speaking of his international career, Nani did remarkably well to win the 2016 European Championship trophy with Portugal and it has to be noted that he started against France in the title game. The Portuguese winger won the 2007/2008 Champions League trophy with Manchester United.
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.
Man City 
Everton
Bournemouth
Crystal Palace 
Chelsea 
Fulham
Newcastle 
Aston Villa 
Nottingham Forest 
Tottenham
Southampton 
West Ham 
