Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire will raise the curtain on their respective 2025 Major League Soccer campaigns when they go head-to-head at Lower.com Field on Saturday.
The home side will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing playoff first-round exit, while the visitors head into the new season with a point to prove having finished bottom of the Eastern Conference last time out.
Match preview
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Having romped to the 2023 MLS title, the Columbus Crew headed into last season as perhaps the biggest threat to the Lionel Messi-led Inter Miami outfit, who were huge favourites to go all the way.
Unsurprisingly, the teams finished with the two best records in the Eastern Conference as Wilfried Nancy's men racked up 66 points from 34 matches, eight points fewer than their South Florida counterparts.
Off the back of a combined 10 goals scored in three straight wins to close out the regular season, the Black and Gold headed into the playoffs on a high but were dumped out by the New York Red Bulls in a best of three series.
A narrow 1-0 defeat on October 29 followed by a 5-4 penalty shootout loss four days later ended the Columbus Crew title defence prematurely, although fellow favourites Inter Miami were unable to take advantage as they were also knocked out in the first round.
After almost three months of inactivity, the Crew were back in action earlier this month but comprehensively lost out to Nashville SC 4-1, before suffering a 1-0 defeat to Houston Dynamo on February 12.
Overall, Saturday's hosts have not had an ideal preparation for the new season as they would have liked, and their transfer business has also left a lot to be desired, with Lassi Lappalainen and 17-year-old Cristian Ortiz the only additions.
A win this weekend would undoubtedly help brighten the mood at Columbus Crew, who have beaten their upcoming opponents in all but one of the most recent six meetings, including both of last season's encounters.
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Seven wins, 40 goals scored, 62 conceded and only 30 points managed. The Chicago Fire endured a disappointing campaign last time out, to say the least, and it was no surprise to see Frank Klopas sacked as a result.
Returning to MLS duty after a five-year spell with Columbus Crew, Gregg Berhalter has an early chance to make a statement on his return to a league where he won two Supporters' Shields and two MLS Cups between 2009 and 2011.
Berhalter has made a positive start to life with his new employers across their six pre-season outings so far, winning the most recent two against LA Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes by a combined score of 6-1.
Shortly after being linked with a move for Neymar, the Chicago Fire completed a deal for Jonathan Bamba, and while the Ivorian's arrival did not generate as much buzz as Neymar's certainly would have, he is one to keep an eye on.
Albeit unofficially, Bamba has already opened his account for Saturday's visitors with a brace in a friendly matchup against the Quakes, and the 28-year-old, who boasts four direct goal contributions in his last five matches, now sets out to make an instant impact on his MLS debut.
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Team News
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Evan Bush has missed a large chunk of action for Columbus Crew due to a broken arm, but the goalkeeper is not far off returning to action, having been named as a substitute against New York Red Bulls.
The home side will also be without Malte Amundsen due to a groin problem, but Lassi Lappalainen should be fit enough to make his debut for the home side after struggling with injury last season.
Swiss international Maren Haile-Selassie has sat out all six of Chicago Fire's friendly outings in 2025 through injury and is also set to miss out on a place this weekend.
David Poreba is drawing increasingly closer towards returning to the fray from a ligament issue, but Saturday's clash will undoubtedly come too soon for the 22-year-old.
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Cheberko, Camacho, Moreira; Jones, Nagbe, Zawadski, Farsi; Rossi, Chambost; Cucho
Chicago Fire possible starting lineup:
Brady; Elliott, Gutman, Teran; Acosta, Dean, Gutierrez, Oregel, Zinckernagel; Bamba, Barlow
We say: Columbus Crew 2-1 Chicago Fire
Columbus Crew will be aiming to make an early statement by emerging victorious on home turf here, and we can see them getting the job done, albeit by only a narrow margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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