The Columbus Crew face the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET in a crucial Eastern Conference matchup. The defending MLS champions aim to snap a three-game losing streak, while Chicago rides a five-game unbeaten run.

Team Form

• Columbus: Lost last 3 matches, conceding 11 goals
• Chicago: Unbeaten in last 5 (2 wins, 3 draws), strong home record since June

Key Points:

• Historic rivalry dating to mid-90s
• Columbus won last meeting 2-0 in June
• Fire haven't beaten Crew in last 8 matches (since 2018)
• Crew sit 7th in East (24 points)
• Fire in 11th place (17 points)

Key Players:

• Luka Stojanovic (Chicago): 5 goals, MLS Player of the Week
• Gyasi Zardes (Columbus): Scored twice in last meeting

Betting Odds:

• Columbus: +235
• Chicago: +110
• Draw: +260
• Total Goals O/U: 2.5 (-115/+110)
• First Goal: Columbus +120, Chicago -130

Analysis: Despite being defending champions, Columbus enters as underdogs due to recent form. However, with a full week of practice and returning players, they have potential to turn things around against a Chicago side they've historically dominated.

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