- Team form: Nashville SC are unbeaten at home in MLS 2026, winning 9 and drawing 1 of their 10 games to date at Geodis Park.
- Away form: Columbus Crew are 24th in MLS 2026 with 20 points from 19 games and have 1 win, 3 draws and 6 losses from 10 away games this term, conceding 22 goals.
- Standings: Nashville SC are 1st in MLS 2026 with 43 points from 19 games, leading the way with 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats across their last 5 matches.
Nashville set to keep on keeping on
Match outlook
Nashville SC host Columbus Crew in MLS 2026 on Sunday and the Tennessee side should have far too much quality to let the visitors take a single point from the trip to Geodis Park. The Boys in Gold are top of the table with 43 points from 19 games, the front running score at this stage of the season which means they are probably on track to win the MLS Championship.
Nashville enter this weekend's matchup off the back of a 4-1 home win over Inter Miami in MLS 2026 and a 2-1 away defeat to CF Rayados de Monterrey in the Leagues Cup, while Columbus arrive on a high after their last outing.
The Crew lost 2-1 away to Rayados de Monterrey in the previous round of the Leagues Cup and have been in decent form overall with 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss in their last 5 games.
Black & Gold looking better under Laurent Courtois
Black & Gold have been in better shape, with Laurent Courtois bringing back the more controlled and possession-based look that the team used to enjoy under his watch at Columbus. Columbus need more of a cutting edge away from home but they have been much improved in recent weeks and could get on the scoresheet against Nashville.
Nashville have 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in their last 5 and have lost 0 of their 10 home games in MLS 2026, making them a 1.8 favourite to take the 3 points in Nashville. Columbus are 4.59 and the draw is 3.87, which makes absolutely no sense given the gulf in quality between the two teams and the Crew's abysmal away record of 1 win, 3 draws and 6 defeats this term.
Nashville’s front line to fire them to the win
Nashville are a controlled aggressive side who can play a flexible brand of possession soccer that sees the fullbacks get forward and the collective press keep the opposition penned back. This shouldn't suit Columbus, who have adopted a calmer, more possession-oriented approach under Laurent Courtois. It's a work in progress, but Nashville are very well drilled under BJ Callaghan and have the firepower to finish off the visitors.
Nashville beat Columbus 1-0 away five months ago in MLS 2026, which was the last matchup between the sides, but Columbus have not won their last away trip to Nashville and the 5 most recent MLS 2026 head-to-head meetings stand at 2 wins apiece and 1 draw, so this is a rivalry with some bite.
- A Nashville win and over 1.5 goals in the match looks the best fit, given their home scoring rate of 2.90 goals per game and the fact they've conceded 1.00 per match, which isn't great.
- Sam Surridge is the main scoring threat for the Boys in Gold with 12 goals in 13 MLS 2026 games this season and Columbus need someone to step up as their spearhead as Diego Rossi has been inconsistent, scoring just 6 goals in 15 appearances in MLS 2026.
- Brais Mendez has chipped in 3 of Columbus's last 8 goals in the last 5 games, however, and Columbus should at least grab a goal.
