- Standings: Columbus are 2nd in their group, 6 points from 2 games, while Pumas are 29th, 0 points from 2.
- Home form: Columbus have won both home games in the CONCACAF Leagues Cup 2026/2027, conceding just 2 goals.
- Away form: Pumas have taken 0 points from their 2 away games in the CONCACAF Leagues Cup 2026/2027, scoring 0 and conceding 2.5 goals per match.
Columbus Crew are 1.8 favorites
Odds and form
Columbus Crew are 1.8 odds-on favorites to beat Pumas UNAM in the CONCACAF Leagues Cup on Tuesday night, while the Mexican team are priced at 3.4 with the draw priced at 4.0. Laurent Courtois' side are the clear favorites, having won 3 of their last 5 and posted back-to-back victories, while Pumas are in mediocre-to-poor shape, winning 2 and losing 3 of their last 5 and losing their previous 2 matches in this competition.
Market view and recent results
However, we'll take the points in the draw market here, as the visiting team's game state should make this a more exciting and open matchup than the odds suggest. Columbus Crew have won both their home games in the CONCACAF Leagues Cup 2026/2027, but both were against Mexican opponents and they've conceded just two goals in total.
Pumas have lost both of their away matches in this tournament, but they are coming off successive away defeats, a 3-0 reverse at Charlotte and a 2-0 loss at FC Cincinnati, so they may need a spark.
Tactics
Laurent Courtois has re-established a compact wing-back system at Columbus, which allows them to mix up ball possession with vertical thrusts, while Pumas' coach Esteban Solari employs a 4-3-3 blueprint that is reliant on high lines, lots of rotation and lots of early pressure. The contrast in approaches should make this more of a game of transition and wide play than a chess match in the middle of the field.
Solari’s team can strike at Columbus
Pumas are a team that wants to get the game going and Columbus can oblige them, so we like the chances of both teams getting on the scoresheet. The hosts have the advantage of a home-field advantage, but the odds seem a little low here considering Pumas are a high-tempo attacking side.
A Columbus victory is the likeliest outcome, as they have won both their CONCACAF home fixtures, while Pumas have conceded 2.5 goals per game away from home in this iteration of the competition.
- Brais Méndez has been Columbus' finisher with 2 goals in 2 Leagues Cup 2026/2027 matches.
- Robert Morales has been the main provider with 3 assists in Pumas' 7 goals across their last 5 matches.
- Taha Habroune has been the magician for Columbus, providing 2 assists in 2 games.
- Juninho has provided the final touch to 3 of their 7 goals.
- Daniel Gazdag adds a punch up front with 3 goals in his last 5 appearances.
