Columbus Crew vs. Inter Miami: Preview, Where to Watch and Betting Odds

Columbus Crew will look to extend their impressive home form when they host Inter Miami in the Round of 16 of the Leagues Cup. The defending MLS Cup champions have been in strong form, winning five of their last six matches at Lower.com Field. Still, they will face a blockbuster contest against the Leagues Cup champions, Inter Miami, who defeated them when the teams met in Florida last July. The Crew was given a bye in the group stages but reminded everyone of their class and depth with the thrashing of Kansas City in the Round of 32. Inter Miami limped to the Round of 16 after a seven-goal thriller against Toronto FC, and without Lionel Messi, they are slight underdogs in this match-up.

Football: Leagues Cup

Where to Watch: Apple TV

Venue: Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio

Date: 14.08.2024 3:30

The Columbus Crew enter this Leagues Cup Round of 16 clash on the back of a convincing 4-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City. The Crew are looking like a team poised to make a deep run in the Leagues Cup and their potent attack is the key. Against Kansas City, the Crew struggled to make headway until almost halftime when they scored. After that, it was a slalom as Wilfred Nancy’s wards walked all over their opponents. Although unbeaten at home against a MLS opponent since May, the Crew have not won a match against Inter Miami since a 1-0 victory in the 2022 season.

Still without captain Lionel Messi for this crucial game, Inter Miami will also miss new center-back David Martinez, who was red-carded in the victory over Toronto. 3-1 and cruising against the Canadians, the loss of Martinez nearly cost the Herons as Toronto roared back, but Tata Martino’s men held out for a nervy 4-3 victory. In the group stage, Miami lost an away game to Tigres and will face a second match on the road in this year’s competition. Last term, the Herons needed penalties to navigate their away games on the road to lifting the cup, even with Messi in the team. This year, Martino has built a team that has shown resilience and survival ability without the talismanic Argentine.

Columbus Crew are 1.77 favorite son Betway which lists Inter Miami as 3.60 underdogs. Total over 3 is listed at 1.89 on 1XBET, which prices the under at 1.81 odds. Inter Miami are 2.50 odds to qualify. Read more here.