Columbus Crew vs Minnesota United Prediction & Betting Tips - Major League Soccer

Prediction published on 26/07/2020, 08:15  by James | Modified on 26/07/2020 at 09:15 in Football Predictions

The Round of 16 of the MLS is Back tournament pits Columbus Crew against Minnesota United. The prize for winning this competition is qualification to the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League. Columbus Crew are one of the favourites to win the whole thing after picking up three wins in a tough group (E) featuring New York Red Bulls, FC Cincinnati, and Atlanta United. Minnesota made it to this stage after finishing second in Group D. They progressed unbeaten by defeating Sporting Kansas City and drawing with both Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids. Columbus Crew didn't make much of a mark on the Eastern Conference last year, finishing tenth, the lowest placing in their history. However, it's hard to see how they did so poorly when watching US international Gyasi Zardes leading the line. The forward scored three goals in the group stage and was ably supported by Zelarayan and Mokhtar, who each scored twice.

Formed in 2017, Minnesota finished fourth in the Western Conference in 2019, the best finish in their three-year history. They traded Darwin Quintero, their top scorer for the last two seasons, to Houston Dynamo before the season started and look a little blunt up front as a result. The only win they picked up in the group stage came courtesy of two stoppage-time goals in the game against Sporting Kansas City. In normal time, they have only scored two goals in this tournament. While Minnesota won their last encounter against Columbus Crew, they lost the previous two. Zardes scored a hat-trick in the 2018 meeting and looks in the mood to add to his tally. We suggest backing the confident and powerful Columbus Crew to win this one.