LA Galaxy vs Columbus Crew Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

A lot was expected from LA Galaxy when they announced the signing of Ibrahimovic, but despite the Swede’s good goal return his club languish in the bottom half of the Western Conference and it’s their local rivals, and latest MLS franchise, LAFC who have been the better performers this season. A midweek draw with DC United stretched LA’s winless run to three games in league and cup, while this weekends guests Columbus Crew returned to winning ways last weekend against Real Salt Lake.

These two teams last met back in August 2017, where an early sending-off helped hosts Columbus Crew to a comfortable victory. Former Chelsea, Arsenal and England left back Ashley Cole was shown a straight red card in the seventieth minute which saw the visitors LA Galaxy reduced to ten men. Columbus Crew squandered their first chance to take the lead when Higuaín missed a twenty-fourth minute penalty, but Norway’s Kamara spared his blushes with the open goal of the game on the stroke of half time. Despite being down to ten-men LA Galaxy gave a very good account of themselves for the ninety minutes, and when Kamara missed the hosts second penalty of the game some may have fancied the visitors to get something out of the match. However, as legs tired, gaps opened up in LA’s defence and Meram struck the ball home in the final minute to wrap up a 2-0 victory for Columbus Crew.

Heading into this weekends latest encounter between the two clubs it’s LA Galaxy who earn the title of form favourites after they picked up two wins, three draws, and suffered just one defeat in their last six matches. Columbus Crew have won two of their last six matches, drawn once and lost three times, but those two victories have arrived in their last two games in the MLS against Real Salt Lake and a friendly against Deportivo Saprissa. We’re backing goals at both ends of the pitch from Sunday’s game as five of the last seven encounters between LA Galaxy and Columbus Crew have gone the same way. Four of Galaxy’s and three of Columbus’ last six results have also witnessed both teams score, while each club has only managed to keep one clean sheet apiece during that six game period.

With ten league goals its that man Ibrahimović who top scores for LA Galaxy this season, though teammate Kamara also provides a threat in the final third having netted six goals in this seasons MLS. Zardes has lead from the front for Columbus crew this season with eleven goals in the league alone, and anyone that can outscore Ibrahimovic has to be taken seriously as an attacking force.

We’re confident that both teams will score in Sunday’s game as they have done in five of their last seven encounters against one another. Their recent results also suggest that goals will be scored at both ends of the pitch and our prediction for the final score is a 2-2 draw.

LA Galaxy’s Predicted Lineup: Bingham, Cole, Ciani, Skjelvik, Romney, Hillard-Arce, Alessandrini, Pontius, Kitchen, Ibrahimović, Jamieson.

Columbus Crew’s Predicted Lineup: Kempin, Afful, Mensah, Sauro, Jiménez, Trapp, Sosa, Artur, Argudo, Santos, Zardes.