Columbus Crew vs San Jose Earthquakes Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Two clubs on lengthy winless runs meet at the MAPFRE Stadium in Ohio on Sunday as Columbus Crew host SJ Earthquakes in a battle between East and West.

After going unbeaten for the first four matches of the new season, Columbus Crew’s form has jumped off a cliff. They haven’t managed to pick up maximum points in any of their most recent quartet of fixtures and Manager Gregg Berhalter has had to watch his players un-do all their early good work.

Crew started life in 2018 with a 2-0 win away at champions Toronto. The result was impressive, even if it was secured against a weakened Toronto side whose focus was elsewhere. The followed that up with a slender 3-2 triumph over Montreal Impact, before taking a decent point in a 0-0 draw at Philadelphia Union.

They put DC United to the sword thereafter, winning 3-1 in Ohio, before losing three on the spin against Vancouver Whitecaps, Chicago Fire and DC United again. Last time out they were held 2-2 at home by New England.

Despite their opening day away win, it’s already apparent that Crew lean heavily on their home form for most of their points. Interestingly, Columbus have lost just one of their last thirteen at the MAPFRE Stadium in a sequence stretching back to last year.

On Sunday they will fancy their chances against a SJ Earthquakes side who have yet to win away from home in the 2018 campaign. San Jose find themselves in a bit of a rut at present, having lost three and drawn two of their last five.

But even though they are finding it tough to carve out any positive results, their ability to get goals has been one of their consistent strengths. Despite winning just once, Earthquakes have scored in each of their five MLS games this season.

Their matches have generally been easy on the eye too, at least from a neutral perspective. Five out of six of their early season contests have finished with over 2.5 goals scored in them.  High goal totals are the norm for their away matches in particular – eleven of their last thirteen fixtures away from home have seen over 2.5 goals registered.

In similar fashion, Columbus’ games at the MAPFRE Stadium have seen plenty of penalty area drama this term. 100% of their last four games there ended with over 2.5 goals scored. Crew like to flex their muscles in Ohio and we expect them to win on Sunday. San Jose have yet to draw a blank in front of goal this season, so we recommend taking the Columbus win/both teams to score option.

Given the high propensity for goals in San Jose’s away games, we’re tipping over 2.5 goals to be scored again in Columbus. Our correct score prediction of 2-1 to Crew sits nicely alongside that.