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The Columbus Crew are taking on the Pigeons this weekend amidst the international break. As most major soccer leagues around the world are on hiatus, all eyes will be on this big Eastern Conference clash. New York City and Columbus are only separated by one point on the table and will look to make an MLS Cup push later this fall. Continue reading for an expert Columbus vs New York City prediction and explore stats and betting tips for Crew vs NYCFC.
- Major League Soccer
- Columbus Crew vs New York City FC
- Saturday, March 22, 2025
- 7:30 PM EST
- Lower.com Field, Columbus, OH
- MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Columbus vs New York City Prediction: Top Online Sportsbooks
Columbus are odds-on favorites to win this match at their home, Lower.com Field. The Crew are (-128) to win, good for an implied probability of 56.1%. New York City, hoping to break a 6-game winless streak against Columbus, are (+410). A draw is lined at (+275).
MLS 
Columbus -128 -130 -130 New York City +410 +350 +350 Draw +240 +275 +275
Want to better understand the 3-way moneyline (1X2) market? See our soccer betting tips and view top 2025 MLS betting sites.
Who is the best Columbus Crew player?
Last year’s Leagues Cup winner, the Columbus Crew, have begun the new MLS season unbeaten. Despite a disappointing exit from the CONCACAF Champions Cup at the hands of LAFC, the Crew bounced back against San Diego. The feisty newcomers to the top-flight scene have held their own so far, but Columbus managed a draw on the road. It was an impressive one considering Columbus went down a man with half an hour remaining.
That draw makes it two in a row of the variety, following up their scoreless match with the Houston Dynamo a week prior. Star player Cucho Hernandez has managed just one goal through five games this far. Columbus will need more from their best player moving forward, and could especially use his goalscoring mastery this weekend.
Columbus will be without the talents of Max Arfsten (USA), Mohamed Farsi (Algeria), Taha Habroune (USA U-20) and their starting keeper Patrick Schulte (USA). Schulte’s absence will likely give Abraham Romero a nod from manager Wilfried Nancy. Last year’s international windows were a major headache for Columbus, as roster mismanagement and a sending off of Romero forced the team to give an outfield player the gloves. The result was as you would expect, with New England dismantling the midfielder-turned-goalie for 4 goals en route to a clean sheet victory.
I don’t envisage a similar scenario with Columbus now rostering a third goalkeeper, but Nancy & Co. must find suitable replacements for their pair of missing defenders Arfsten and Farsi. With one goal or less scored in their last three league fixtures, Columbus will need to be watertight at the back if their offense continues to sputter.
New York City FC Players Adjusting to New Manager
7 points accrued through the first four games of the MLS season is nothing to scoff at, especially considering the strength of schedule New York City has faced. New manager Pascal Jansen led his side to a gritty draw at Inter Miami in the opener before seeing out a 1-0 loss to LAFC across the country. NYCFC took care of business in their home matches, although their performances were not the prettiest.
A 2-1 win over Orlando City looked shaky towards the end, as Orlando equalized just before the 70th minute mark. The Pigeons picked up a quick game-winner in return, only to have Kevin O’Toole sent off. And against one of the league’s worst teams last year, New York City conceded first via an own goal. The club was able to recover again and squeak by an identical 2-1 scoreline.
New York City will be short-handed in this match as well, with four players reporting for international duties. Alonzo Martinez, Drew Baiera, Zidane Yanez, and Tomas Romero will all be unavailable. Martinez is likely to be the player most sorely missed as the Costa Rican leads the club in scoring. But 17-year-old homegrown fullback Baiera will also leave a hole in the backline for NYCFC, an area they are struggling to fulfill at the moment due to several injuries.
It is precisely that center-back position that New York City should target in the transfer window this spring. Already thin on bodies and with a busy season ahead, New York City must prioritize quantity over quality.
Columbus vs New York City Prediction: Expert Crew vs NYCFC Pick
Columbus vs New York City represents one of the biggest matches on paper this weekend. Both are missing a few key players but will look to secure a result in what could be a pivotal moment upon reflection. A win for New York City away at Columbus could be a catalyst for a strong season under Jansen, a boss supporters have grown fond of quickly.
In this Crew vs NYCFC battle, I see a clear side to back in the betting market. The visitors have been underrated dating back to summer of last season, and Columbus’ stock could never be higher. The Crew’s only solid outing was in their curtain-raiser, almost a month ago now and at home against the lowly Chicago Fire.
As always, I rely heavily on my data-driven projections to make a betting prediction. My numbers have New York City’s odds of winning at (+289), further bolstering my case. That signifies a large discrepancy from the market-best NYCFC moneyline of (+410), and with some sharp money moving in the same direction, the proof is in the pudding.
I will recommend a bet on New York City to earn a win or draw at (+105), available at Bovada. I think the Pigeons can earn a result and push Columbus’ losing streak further.
Odds are accurate at time of writing but subject to change.
Top Sportsbooks for Columbus Crew vs NYCFC
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