New England Revolution are set to host Columbus Crew at the Gillette Stadium on Saturday in an Eastern Conference clash that could be pivotal for both sides in their quest to qualify for the MLS Cup.
The home side are fourth last in 12th with 19 points, while the visitors are fifth with 30 points, but both teams have played just 17 games and have at least two matches in hand on every other team in the conference.
Match preview
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Although New England Revolution are in the bottom half of the table, they are just two points from ninth-placed Atlanta United, who occupy the conference's final MLS Cup playoff spot.
Additionally, they are only seven points from seventh-placed Nashville SC, who occupy the division's final automatic MLS Cup spot.
To add to this, the hosts have two games in hand on both of those sides and are in good form having won their last four league games, including most recently 2-1 against FC Cincinnati on Saturday.
However, New England are averaging 1.1 points per game, and this is significantly fewer than their average of 1.6 that they achieved in 2023, when they finished fifth.
Current manager Caleb Porter was appointed in December 2023 and is a two-time MLS Cup winner with the Portland Timbers in 2015 and Sunday's opponents Columbus Crew in 2020.
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Porter has an overall record of eight wins, two draws and 12 losses this season, while his side have also scored 17 goals and conceded 30 in MLS this term.
New England's home league record under Porter has been poor, as while they have won their last two MLS matches at the Gillette Stadium, they did lose five of the previous seven.
Meanwhile, opponents Columbus Crew have fared better on the road this season, having lost just twice away from home in the league while also winning four of their last five away MLS games.
However, it should be noted that they did lose their most recent away game 2-1 on June 20, but in fairness this was against Lionel Messi's table-topping Inter Miami.
Interestingly, while Columbus are 11 points from first-placed Inter Miami, they do have three games in hand.
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To add to this, over the last six MLS fixtures the visitors have won five matches, and this makes them the league's most in-form team over that period.
Manager Wilfried Nancy has been in charge since December 2022, and in his debut season with the club he managed to guide them to a third-placed finish while averaging 1.68 points per game.
This term, Nancy's side are averaging 1.76 points per game and have scored 29 goals and conceded just 17 times, the latter being the best defensive record in either conference.
Team News
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The hosts have a number of absentees, including defenders Peyton Miller and Ryan Spaulding, who are out with thigh and hamstring injuries respectively.
Goalkeeper Henrich Ravas is at Euro 2024 with Slovakia and will be part of the squad to face England in the round of 16.
Midfielder Dylan Borrero is expected back in late July after suffering a hip injury, while Mark-Anthony Kaye and Tomas Chancalay should be back in the middle of next month.
Nacho Gil and Thomas McNamara suffered respective knee and hamstring injuries and will also be absent from midfield, but more positively they should be back in action in early July.
Elsewhere, forward Bobby Wood is out with a calf injury and is unlikely to be back until the middle of July.
As for the visitors, they will be without Jacen Russell-Rowe, who is in the Canada squad at Copa America.
The only injury concern is Evan Bush, who suffered an arm issue and will be back for Columbus Crew in late July.
New England Revolution possible starting lineup:
Ivacic; Lima, Arreaga, Romney, Jones; Harkes, Polster; Bajraktarevic, Gil, Boateng; Vrioni
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Cheberko; Farsi, Nagbe, Morris, Arfsten; Rossi, Ramirez, Hernandez
We say: New England Revolution 0-2 Columbus Crew
Columbus's strong defence could mean that New England find it difficult to break their opponents down.
Additionally, having scored just 17 goals in 17 games, the hosts may struggle to generate enough chances to truly threaten the visitors.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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