- Seattle Sounders are slight favourites to win at +127 ahead of Columbus Crew at +250, with the Draw at +275 in between.
- Seattle and Columbus are well matched in terms of average goals scored and conceded across MLS 2025.
Tight game expected between different styles
Seattle Sounders and Columbus Crew renew their rivalry in a pivotal matchup in the battle for playoff spots in MLS 2025 on Sunday. The Seattle Sounders vs Columbus Crew prediction is and it’s a tough one to call, with Seattle currently 12th with 29 points from 19 matches while Columbus Crew are sixth with 37 points from 20 matches.
Brian Schmetzer’s team are in poor form, with just one win and four defeats from their last five in all competitions, and they’re coming up against a confident Crew team that has won three on the bounce.
The Sounders did get a confidence-boosting 2-0 home win over Austin FC last time out to end a poor streak and they are tough to beat at Lumen Field, where they have six wins, two draws and just one loss in MLS 2025. Their average of 2.22 goals for and 0.89 against there is much better than across all venues. This Seattle Sounders vs Columbus Crew preview highlights just how crucial home advantage will be.
Schmetzer’s pragmatism up against Nancy’s possession game
The difference in approach between the two sides should make for an intriguing chess match on the pitch, and our Seattle Sounders vs Columbus Crew prediction takes into account both tactical structures.
Schmetzer’s pragmatic approach has served Seattle well since his appointment in 2016 as they have built a side that can be very tough to break down, especially at home where their discipline and structure are rarely exposed.
They do have some attacking quality, but the tactical tweaks Schmetzer has made of late have not seen the Sounders play with the kind of fluency that was in evidence in the opening weeks of the campaign.
The game against Austin FC was a step in the right direction, but the team are still lacking a killer instinct that Lodeiro has usually supplied in recent seasons.
Albert Rusnak is their top scorer in MLS 2025 with 7 goals in 18 appearances and is usually the man that can create a bit of spark in the final third.
Lodeiro is still the creative hub and can unlock a game with a wonderful pass, but Nancy’s men are pretty solid defensively and should be able to stop the ball at their back.
Crew can get goals and create chances
Wilfried Nancy’s approach has been almost the polar opposite to Schmetzer’s since he took charge in 2022. The Seattle Sounders vs Columbus Crew prediction must consider his team have been more proactive, looking to dominate the possession and unsettle the opposition with their movement and pressing.
They have the quality to do it too, as the visitors have shown in three successive wins.
Diego Rossi is in fine form up front for the Crew with nine MLS 2025 goals and is always a threat on the counter-attack.
Cucho Hernández can also contribute up top and his versatility and movement off the ball gives Columbus a little more of an edge than Seattle in attack.
