- Team form: Cincinnati are the favorites for Sunday's H2H, but Columbus have won 3 and lost only 2 of their last 5 games.
- Head-to-head: Cincinnati won two and Columbus won three.
- Home record: Cincinnati have won two of their last three home games against Columbus.
Cincy have an edge in derby game
Standings and form
FC Cincinnati enter Sunday's Hell Is Real derby game ahead of Columbus Crew in the overall standings, but the Orange and Blue are just 17th in MLS 2026 with 36 points from 27 games, while The Crew are 27th with 29 points from 28 matches.
Tactical approaches
Pat Noonan has kept Cincinnati organized since his appointment in December 2021 by using a three-center-back system, high wing-backs and pressing in bursts to get on top of teams and control the tempo.
That won't really work against Columbus, who can play just as well as Cincinnati at the pacey game, although Laurent Courtois has returned the Crew to a more possession-based approach with pressing from the front since taking over in May 2026.
Goals likely in derby clash of styles
This game is a classic clash of width versus possession, so turnovers will probably decide which team lands the heavier punches.
FC Cincinnati lost the last derby two months ago when Columbus, who had won the reverse fixture 2-1 at home, were the better side. The defeat away to CF Montreal had put Cincinnati in a bad mood, but they responded in their next fixture by downing Atlanta United 3-1 on the road.
Columbus can make it close
Columbus have struggled badly on the road with only two wins, three draws and nine defeats away from home in MLS 2026, but they have enough goals to make this an honest game.
Our selection is for both teams to score and over 2.5 goals in this derby, which looks good at 1.33 and 1.35 respectively, rather than backing either club at 1.9 (Cincinnati) and 3.3 (Columbus) with the draw at 4.1.
- Kevin Denkey, Cincinnati's leading scorer with 14 goals in 24 games, has scored five of Cincinnati's last nine goals, so back him to get at Columbus' defense on Sunday.
- The Crew have scored eight goals in their last five games, but a 3-2 defeat at Orlando City last time out showed they can be breached late in games.
- Columbus' top scorer is Uruguayan international Diego Rossi with six goals in 15 appearances, so the visitors have the edge in terms of 'finishing power' here.
