Major League Soccer · Matchday 30 
FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew: Crew Look to Climb Out of Trouble
Columbus Crew sit 13th of 15 in MLS and need points to escape the bottom three. They travel to face an FC Cincinnati side just four places and four points above them, with both teams missing players.
📍 TQL Stadium
Match facts
Recent form
Last 5 league games, latest on the right
Goals per game
| Scored | Conceded | |
|---|---|---|
| FC Cincinnati | 2.1 | 2.4 |
| Columbus Crew | 1.5 | 1.6 |
League position
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | FC Cincinnati | 28 | -8 | 36 |
| 13 | Columbus Crew | 29 | -3 | 32 |
Last meetings
- 2026Columbus Crew2-1FC Cincinnati
- 2025FC Cincinnati2-1Columbus Crew
- 2025Columbus Crew4-0FC Cincinnati
- 2025FC Cincinnati1-0Columbus Crew
- 2025FC Cincinnati2-4Columbus Crew
Absences
FC Cincinnati
- OutJ. Martinez · Knee Injury
- OutM. Robinson · Injury
Columbus Crew
- OutW. Abou Ali · Knee Injury
- OutR. Camacho · Chest Injury
Columbus Crew sit 13th of 15 in Major League Soccer, deep in the relegation zone and four points behind FC Cincinnati in ninth. For a Columbus side determined to climb out of trouble, this trip to TQL Stadium is a chance to narrow that gap and take points from a team above them.
Columbus’s climb begins in Cincinnati
Cincinnati have 36 points from 28 games, with a goal difference of -8. Columbus have 32 from 29, with a goal difference of -3. The Crew have a slightly better defensive record across the campaign, but they need to turn more of their games into wins if they are to pull clear of trouble.
Two sides with different momentum
Cincinnati’s last five have brought one win, two draws and two defeats, with 11 goals scored and 12 conceded. Columbus have won three of their last five (WLWWL, ignoring the final defeat in that run), scoring nine and conceding just six. The Crew have also kept five clean sheets this season, compared with two for Cincinnati.
At home, Cincinnati have been the more productive side, winning seven of 13 games and scoring 36 goals. Columbus have struggled on the road, winning only two of 14 away matches, which makes this fixture a real test of their resilience.
A rivalry that has swung both ways
The last five meetings have been finely balanced. Columbus have won three, including a 4-2 win at Cincinnati in July 2025 and a 4-0 rout at home in November. Cincinnati have claimed two, a 1-0 win in October 2025 and a 2-1 victory in November. The most recent meeting in July went to Columbus, who won 2-1 at home.
Injury blows on both sides
Cincinnati will be without J. Martinez (knee injury) and M. Robinson (injury). Columbus are missing W. Abou Ali (knee injury) and R. Camacho (chest injury), so both managers will have to adjust their line-ups.
Our prediction
We expect a tight contest, with the visitors edging it. Columbus’s defensive form and recent results give them the edge, and their experience against this opponent in recent meetings should help them. Cincinnati’s strong home record means they will push hard, but a narrow away win fits the Crew’s current pattern.