Preview: Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami - prediction, team news, lineups

Inter Miami have the opportunity to leapfrog Saturday's hosts, Columbus Crew, if Phil Neville's side collect three points when they travel to Lower.com Field.

Columbus currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, six points behind CF Montreal, New York City FC and DC United, who have all claimed 40 points and occupy the final playoff positions.

Match preview

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Caleb Porter's side returned to MLS action last time out, after winning the Campeones Cup at the end of September courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Mexican outfit Cruz Azul.

However, Columbus Crew did not carry on their winning momentum three days later when they travelled to face Philadelphia Union, who were comfortable 3-0 winners over their visitors.

That defeat ended a run of four games in all competitions which Crew remained unbeaten, but the defeat perhaps did not come as a surprise, having only won twice away from Lumen.com Field this season.

Including Saturday's encounter, both of these sides only have six Eastern Conference matches left to break into the top seven, suggesting that Columbus or Inter Miami will have to string together an unbeaten run at the end of this season to make up the points gap.

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Neville's side will be looking for a quick change in fortunes, having lost their last five consecutive games, and that form has seen their playoff hopes starting to diminish.

Miami are eight points off seventh spot, and Saturday's clash against Columbus feels as though it is a must-win match for Neville's team, as a defeat this weekend and victories for Montreal, New York City and DC United will leave Miami 11 points adrift of the playoffs.

A worry for Neville is that his side have only scored once in their run of five defeats, and have not found the back of the net at least twice in a single game since August.

That leaves Inter Miami as the lowest scorers in the Eastern Conference, but Columbus have shown defensive frailties this season, in particular in their last outing against Philadelphia.

Miami will take confidence from their last meeting with Columbus just over one month ago, when Gonzalo Higuain's 16th-minute goal was enough to seal a 1-0 win for Inter Miami at the Lockhart Stadium.

Team News

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Columbus midfielder Perry Kitchen is nearing a return to action, having been sidelined since July with ligament damage, but Saturday's encounter is likely to have come too early for the 29-year-old.

Many other players are also unavailable this weekend and for the near future, including Aidan Morris, Artur, Harrison Afful and Kevin Molino.

Attacking midfielder Pedro Santos scored and assisted 12 goals last season, but this year he has only managed two goals in the MLS, and he failed to make that three last time out when he missed a penalty, but he will be looking to bounce back this weekend and is certain to start.

Ian Fray, Joevin Jones, Ryan Shawcross, Ventura Alvarado and Victor Ulloa are all going to be absent from Inter Miami's squad this weekend as they recover from injury, and Neville is unlikely to name the same defensive trio which started against New York Red Bulls last time out.

Neville has not named the same back three in any of their last five games, and Christian Makoun could come back into the starting lineup in place of Kelvin Leerdam.

Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Bush; Keita, Williams, Mensah; Valenzuela, Hairston, Nagbe, Moreira; Zelarayan, Santos; Zardes

Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Marsman; Pirez, Mabika, Makoun; Shea, Chapman, Gregore, Pizarro, Morgan; Higuain, Robinson

We say: Columbus Crew 2-0 Inter Miami

Despite a heavy defeat last time out, Columbus will be pleased to be back on home soil this weekend, and they will want to take advantage of Inter Miami's poor form.

Neville's team did not offer much in the attacking third last time out to suggest that their fortunes in front of goal will change anytime soon, and Columbus have scored at least two goals in each of their last four home games.