Inter Miami vs Columbus Crew: Preview, Prediction, Team News, and Lineups
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Inter Miami will host Columbus Crew on Sunday at Chase Stadium in their 16th Eastern Conference clash of the 2025 MLS season. The hosts, sixth in the standings with 26 points, secured a 4-2 victory over CF Montreal on Thursday, while Columbus Crew, fourth with 28 points, were held to a 2-2 stalemate by Nashville SC on the same date.
According to Sports Mole, Inter Miami’s win against CF Montreal was their first in five matches, and it was just their second success in nine, with the team losing five in that time. The Herons boast a game in hand on all of the top nine, who occupy the Eastern Conference’s nine championship playoff spots, and a victory in that match would be significant given they are separated from first-placed Philadelphia Union by seven points.
Inter Miami have been vulnerable at the back, with the club conceding 15 in their last five, but they did score 11 goals in those outings. The hosts’ record at home has been mixed considering they have lost three of their past five at Chase Stadium, emerging triumphant in the other two. Sports Mole reports that Inter Miami’s inconsistent form has been a concern, with boss Javier Mascherano’s side managing to create five big chances against CF Montreal, though he will be concerned that they also faced three big chances themselves.
Meanwhile, Columbus Crew were fortunate to only concede twice against Nashville SC given they faced seven big chances while only creating one. Head coach Wilfried Nancy’s team have not kept a clean sheet in 11 matches, though his side rank as the Eastern Conference’s joint fourth-best defensive side having conceded on 19 occasions. The visitors were beaten 1-0 in the reverse fixture against Inter Miami on April 19, and they have in fact lost five of their past seven against their hosts.
As per Sports Mole, Columbus Crew are winless in five games and were held to stalemates in four of those matches, but they did achieve victory in five of their prior six. The Crew have lost one and drawn two of their three most recent outings on the road, though they emerged as winners in three of their previous four.
Team News
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Inter Miami will be without midfielder Baltasar Rodriguez until the middle of June, while David Ruiz and Yannick Bright are also injured. Perhaps veteran Sergio Busquets will be joined by Federico Redondo in the middle of the pitch behind forwards Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
With goalkeeper Drake Callender and centre-back Gonzalo Lujan ruled out, fans could see central defenders Noah Allen and Maximiliano Falcon play ahead of shot-stopper Oscar Ustari. As for Columbus, wing-back Mohamed Farsi is dealing with a back issue, while goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and centre-backs Sean Zawadzki and Rudy Camacho are also on the sidelines.
Lineups
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Sports Mole predicts the following lineups:
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Ustari; Fray, Falcon, Allen, Alba; Allende, Redondo, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suarez
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Hagen; Moreira, Cheberko, Amundsen; Herrera, Chambost, Nagbe, Arfsten; Rossi, Gazdag; Aliyu
Prediction
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Sports Mole predicts that the match will end in a 1-1 draw, citing Columbus Crew’s strong defensive record and Inter Miami’s excellent form in the final third. The preview notes that it would not be surprising if the teams settle for a draw on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines, and more for this match, please click here, according to Sports Mole.
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