- Team form: Columbus Crew have won their last two home games.
- Head-to-head: Cincinnati have failed to win their last two away games against Columbus Crew.
Hell Is Real in Ohio
On Saturday, MLS 2026's two Ohio clubs meet at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in a game which is much closer on paper than the odds indicate. Columbus Crew, 23rd with 16 points from 15 matches, are the favorites at 1.73, against an FC Cincinnati who are 15th with 20 points from the same amount of matches. Cincinnati are priced at 3.9 to win the game and the tie price is 4.2.
Columbus Crew are in the best form of the two clubs with 2 wins, 1 tie and 2 defeats in their last 5 matches, while Cincinnati are on a 2-match winning streak, but have 2 wins, 2 ties and 1 defeat across their last 5 games across all competitions. Columbus have won their last 2 home matches and appear to be getting better, more organised and more clinical in the box, while Cincinnati have struggled away, as their 8 road games in MLS 2026 have produced just 1 win, 4 ties and 3 defeats, with the Orange & Blue having shipped 23 goals – an average of 2.88 goals per away game.
No love lost between these rivals
Recent meetings
Columbus won just 1 and Cincinnati won 2 of the last 3 meetings between these sides across all current competitions with no ties, so the fire of this Ohio rivalry has been burning bright recently, with Cincinnati winning the last match-up 2-1 at home in the MLS Playoffs 2025.
Tactical outlook
Laurent Courtois has been in charge since May 17th, 2026 and his system has been getting results lately. Columbus press higher up the pitch, have players rotating and closing the build-up angles, and are more direct in the final third.
Pat Noonan has been in the FC Cincinnati hot seat since December 2021 and his 4-3-3 system, with a few tweaks, has been based on possession, fast circulation and aggressive ball recovery. The visitors will try to get numbers behind the ball, stretch Columbus' press and strike on the counter, while Columbus will try to pinch the build-up, close off the passing lanes and press quickly.
Columbus to edge it
The home win looks tempting in this Ohio derby, but Cincinnati have been in better form recently so we're taking a narrow Columbus win.
Hell Is Real should bring the heat, tempo swings and the proper derby bite to this one, so we're also taking Over 2.5 goals, which is priced generously at 1.38. Columbus Crew to beat FC Cincinnati with Over 2.5 goals is the top choice for Saturday's MLS 2026 fixture at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
- Cincinnati have the more in-form man in form in this match-up in Evander Ferreira, who has scored 9 goals in 14 MLS 2026 appearances and 4 in addition to 5 assists in his team's 5-game surge, while Columbus' top scorer in the league is Diego Rossi with 6 goals from 15 appearances.
- Max Arfsten has chipped in with 2 of the Crew's 6 goals in their last 5 contests.
