- Team form: Columbus are undefeated in five games, winning four and drawing one.
- Away form: Montreal have one win in nine away games in MLS 2026 (D1, L7), conceding 25 goals.
- Head-to-head: The Crew have won one of the last two meetings and the other ended 1-1 – Montreal haven't won any of their last three away games to Columbus.
Columbus have Montreal’s number
Tactics and system
Columbus Crew look set to take control of this matchup with their style of high-energy, possession-based soccer, but CF Montreal have a puncher's chance to nick the result with one of their best players on form. Laurent Courtois has the Black and Gold playing with a possession-first base, but with much more verticality than before, with the Crew combining control with the ability to put opponents under pressure with sudden, quicker bursts.
Form and odds
Brais Mendez has scored three of the Crew's nine goals in all competitions across their last five games and it looks like Columbus have turned the corner with an impressive three-game win streak that has also included wins over CF Atlas Guadalajara (3-1), Pachuca (2-1) and edged Pumas UNAM on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the CONCACAF Leagues Cup 2026/2027. Columbus are the clear favorites in this clash at 1.58, with Montreal available at 4.9 and the draw 4.3.
Standings and coaching
The gap between these clubs is real, but tight with Columbus sit 24th in MLS 2026 with 20 points from 18 matches and Montreal 28th with 16 points from the same number of matches. This matchup sets an established, though flawed Crew side against the fragments of a Montreal team that is still looking for a solid rhythm after yet more coaching churn this season. In his short time in the role, Philippe Eullaffroy has attempted to steady the ship, but confidence could still be fragile with the visitors coming into this game after an MLS 2026 home defeat to Inter Miami CF and a 2-2 draw with New England Revolution.
Crew are in the driving seat
Diego Rossi is the Crew's MLS 2026 top scorer with six in 15 games, so they do have a proven finisher up top and Montreal's Osei Owusu will have to be kept quiet.
So back Columbus to win and both teams to score, which is available at an attractive odds of 1.55.
- Prince Osei Owusu is Montreal's MLS 2026 leading scorer with ten in 17 games and is the one player that Columbus have to shut down here.
- The Crew are in great form and at home, where they have four wins, two draws and three losses in nine games, scoring 1.33 goals per game and conceding just 1.00.
- CF Montreal have been poor away from home in MLS 2026, winning only one of their nine games (D1, L7) and have given up 25 goals away from home.
