MLS Preview: Inter Miami vs Columbus Crew

Inter Miami will host Columbus Crew in MLS at 7:30am Beijing time on August 2. In the current Eastern Conference standings, Inter Miami are second on 37 points, just two behind the leaders, while Columbus Crew are 11th on 19 points, three points outside the top-nine playoff places.

Inter Miami have won their last two matches despite being without two key players, Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, edging both games by a one-goal margin to stay close to the summit. Messi has now returned to training and could make the bench for this match, which would be another boost for the home side. This season, Messi has 12 MLS goals and 8 assists, underlining his role as Inter Miami's main attacking threat.

Inter Miami have been the most potent attacking team in MLS this season, scoring 43 goals at an average of 2.5 per game. However, they have also conceded plenty, with 30 goals against, compared with 12 conceded by Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC. At home, Inter Miami are expected to use an aggressive 4-3-3 shape, pressing high, disrupting the opponent in midfield and attack, and using central combinations to work through the defense. Their back line is also likely to push up, which could leave space behind for counter-attacks.

Columbus Crew have lost 47% of their league matches this season. Away from home, their record stands at 1 win, 2 draws and 5 defeats from 8 league games, a 62% loss rate, while they have conceded more than two goals per game on average on the road. Their recent away form is also poor, with 1 draw and 3 defeats in their last 4 away matches, scoring 4 goals and conceding 9.

For this game, Columbus Crew are expected to sit deep and look to counter. Their plan is likely to be to draw Inter Miami forward and then try to break quickly for a decisive chance. However, their weakness in wide defensive areas could become a key avenue for the hosts.

Inter Miami also hold a psychological edge after beating Columbus Crew 5-1 at home in the most recent meeting between the sides. With the team already on a winning run despite missing key players, Messi's return could provide another lift. Given Columbus Crew's poor away record, the visitors may struggle to match the home side's recent momentum.

Prediction: Inter Miami to win.

Match time: 2026-08-02 07:30