Preview: Columbus Crew vs. New York City FC - prediction, team news, lineups

Locked together on points in the MLS Eastern Conference, eighth-placed Columbus Crew will host a New York City FC side which sit just two places above them on Saturday.

While the hosts have gone four straight games without victory, the Pigeons have won three of their five league fixtures since these teams last met in May.

Match preview

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Coming into this weekend, Columbus Crew remain unbeaten at home; winning three and drawing two of their five games at the Historic Crew Stadium and their brand new Lower.com Field headquarters so far this term.

Caleb Porter's side have drawn each of their last three Eastern Conference matches all told, including last Saturday's 2-2 draw at FC Cincinnati. Though the hosts led by two goals during the first half - and enjoyed a one-man advantage for the entire second period after Crew defender Harrison Afful was dismissed for a pair of bookings - the defending MLS Cup champions fought back to salvage a hard-earned point on the road.

A goal and an assist from Lucas Zelarayan - the club's record signing, who played as a lone frontman following Afful's untimely departure - proved vital in rescuing what looked like a lost cause for Porter and company. The former United States Under-23 coach later praised his team for their tough mentality, as Columbus had started the game with 11 players missing through injury or on international duty.

Even if they have not managed to secure maximum points since last month's win over Chicago Fire, the Ohio-based outfit have now rallied from two goals down in successive games.

After a fractious encounter against their rivals last time out - after which the MLS Disciplinary Committee found both clubs in violation of their 'Mass Confrontation Policy' - the Crew will hope for a more serene return to winning ways at the Lower.com Field this weekend, as they face a team they beat 2-1 when they met earlier this season, and have also overcome in both of their last two clashes on home soil.

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Having been overtaken by Montreal in the MLS standings following a 2-1 defeat to the Canadian club last Thursday, inconsistent New York City have lost their grip on the coat-tails of front-runners New England Revolution.

As a result, City have picked up seven points from a possible 15 on the road so far this season, after returning from Florida - where the game was staged due to travel restrictions - following a previous run of three consecutive home fixtures.

They continue their road trip on Saturday evening, hoping to improve on their failure to protect a one-goal advantage over Montreal, given to them by former Benfica B midfielder Keaton Parks, who also netted a dramatic equaliser in their 2-1 victory over DC United the previous week.

Nevertheless, Ronny Deila's side remain very much in the mix for a playoff place come the end of the regular season - particularly still having a game in hand on most of their closest competitors.

So far, the Blues have scored in each of their 11 games during this MLS campaign, netting 19 goals in total - the third-highest tally of any Eastern Conference team.

Though those goals have been evenly distributed throughout the squad, City's top scorer has been Paraguayan midfielder Jesus Medina - with five strikes so far already matching his final total of last season. He has not found the net since the end of May, though, so will be eager to get back on the goal trail versus a Columbus side which have conceded twice in each of their last two games.

Team News

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As USA striker Gyasi Zardes and his deputy, veteran Englishman Bradley Wright-Phillips, are both unavailable, Columbus have arranged a trade for Montreal's Erik Hurtado, who could be involved on Saturday.

While Zardes is on international duty, Wright-Phillips remains out with a thigh injury which has limited the former New York Red Bulls man to just six appearances to date, so the Crew have found themselves light in terms of attacking options. In fact, before he departed, Zardes had scored four times in his previous five starts, demonstrating the hosts' reliance on his penalty-box potency.

Lucas Zelarayan has fared relatively well in his absence, though, so should retain his place in Caleb Porter's XI, which will once more be without goalkeeper Eloy Room, Kevin Molino and Derrick Etienne Jr - each called up to their respective national teams too.

Furthermore, Columbus are likely to have Milton Valenzuela, Artur, Aidan Morris and Josh Williams unavailable through injury, while right-back Harrison Afful must serve a suspension.

New York City head coach Ronny Deila, meanwhile, will be without Brazilian forward Heber, as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury suffered last year.

Though Peru defender Alex Callens has returned from Copa America duty, both James Sands and Sean Johnson are still away representing the United States at the Gold Cup - with the former appearing as a substitute in the midweek win against Haiti. Luis Barraza should once again deputise for Johnson in goal.

Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Bush; Abdul-Salaam, Jonathan, Wormgoor, Francis; Hairston, Kitchen; Santos, Nagbe, Matan; Zelarayan

New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Barraza; Morales, Chanot, Ibeagha; Tinnerholm, Acevedo, Parks, Amundsen; Moralez, Tajouri; Castellanos

We say: Columbus Crew 1-1 New York City FC

The home side's run without a win could continue this week, as Columbus remain depleted by the absence of several key players and have developed a habit of going behind in the first half of games.

New York City, though, are a very much hit-and-miss proposition, so they will not necessarily be able to press home that advantage on Saturday.