Columbus Crew vs. Portland Timbers Analysis and Prediction

Columbus Crew will be looking to strengthen their playoffs position in the Eastern Conference MLS this weekend when they welcome Portland Timbers to Lower.com Field in the 32nd round of the competition.

After a seven-match unbeaten streak was ended by the Herons earlier this week, Columbus Crew find themselves suddenly clinging to that final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Earning points in 16 of their last 18 games sounds impressive in theory, but they have only captured four victories since July, blowing four second-half advantages over that span.

Columbus Crew heads into this game off the back of 2-1 MLS loss in to Inter Miami in their most recent fixture. In that match, Columbus Crew managed 57% possession, 12 shots with two of them on target and a goal by Juan Camilo Hernández (41′). Inter Miami got 11 shots with six of them on target and goals by Gonzalo Higuaín (25′, 82′).

Meanwhile, since 2020 Portland Timbers have only lost two of their 15 matches played in September and are currently unbeaten in 12 successive September fixtures after last Saturday. However, two of their final three regular-season encounters will be on the road, where Portland have won only once in their last four games, conceding 12 goals over that stretch.

Portland Timbers will want another win following 1-0 MLS triumph over Minnesota United in their previous game. In that match, Portland Timbers had 53% possession, 11 shots with one of them on target and a goal scored by Dairon Asprilla (61′). Minnesota United got 21 shots with five of them on target.

Columbus Crew vs. Portland Timbers head to head

Portland Timbers boasts a slight upper hand in the head to head history of this fixture having won six times from the 11 meetings since 2011; Columbus Crew won three times while two matches ended in stalemates.

• Columbus 1-3 Portland 21/04/19              
• Portland 3-2 Columbus 20/09/18
• Columbus 3-2 Portland 26/03/17              
• Portland 2-1 Columbus 07/03/16
• Columbus 1-2 Portland 07/12/15

Home

• Miami 2-1 Columbus
• Montreal 2-2 Columbus
• Columbus 0-0 Chicago
• Columbus 1-0 Miami
• Cincinnati 2-2 Columbus

Away

• Portland 1-0 Minnesota
• Portland 2-1 Atlanta
• Austin 1-2 Portland
• Portland 2-1 Seattle
• Kansas City 4-1 Portland

Columbus Crew team news

Boss Caleb Porter will be without the services of Perry Kitchen who has been ruled out through knee injury.

Portland Timbers team news

Diego Gutiérrez and Felipe Mora will be unavailable for the visitor’s selection for this game through injuries.

Prediction and odds

• Draw
• Both teams to score
• Double Chance 1 or 2