Rotation promises open football: prediction for Columbus Crew vs Burnley
Columbus Crew
Burnley
The friendly between Columbus Crew and Burnley will take place this Sunday at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. The American side is gearing up for the MLS season restart, while the English club plays their second pre-season fixture as part of their summer tour.
Columbus Crew: match fitness should give hosts the edge
After 15 MLS matches, Columbus Crew have picked up four wins, four draws, and suffered seven defeats, tallying 16 points. Before the break, the Crew notched back-to-back victories - 1-0 over New York City in the US Open Cup and 2-0 against Atlanta United in the league.
The team is currently under the interim guidance of Laurent Courtois, who is tasked with preparing the squad for the official season’s resumption on July 22. Up front, the hosts will rely on Diego Rossi, who has found the net six times in 16 appearances. However, Malte Amundsen, Vessam Abu Ali, and Jamal Thiare will miss out due to injuries.
Burnley: rebuilding after Premier League relegation
Burnley are bracing for life back in the Championship after a disappointing Premier League campaign, where they managed only 22 points from 38 matches. Mike Jackson is serving as caretaker manager for now, though Nicky Hayden is rumored to be taking over soon.
Before facing Columbus, the Clarets will play a warm-up game against Cincinnati, so the lineup and minutes distribution will depend on the workload in that first match. Hannibal Mejbri, Zeki Amdouni, Lyle Foster, and Hjalmar Ekdal are unavailable due to World Cup commitments, but Kyle Walker is expected to feature at right-back.
Match facts
- Columbus Crew have won their last two official matches with a combined score of 3-0.
- Diego Rossi has scored six goals in 16 appearances this season.
- This will be Burnley’s second friendly in a short span.
Plenty of subs should lead to goals: Columbus Crew vs Burnley prediction
Columbus should look more cohesive, having played a significant portion of their season and riding a two-game winning streak. However, a long break from official matches and inevitable squad rotation could affect the hosts’ focus.
Burnley are just starting their preparations and will also rotate heavily throughout the match. Both sides have quality up front, but with defensive experiments likely, the prospects of a high-scoring affair are strong.
