Venue & Match Details
Stadium: Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio
Kickoff: 6:30 PM ET
Broadcast: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV+)
Weather Outlook
Forecast: Clear skies, 51°F (11°C), light winds (5–7 mph)
Conditions: Cool but favorable for attacking play, no weather disruptions expected.
Injury Report
Columbus Crew SC:
No major new injuries reported, but squad depth has been tested late in the season.
Cucho Hernández (F, 16 goals, 9 assists) – Fully fit and critical to Crew’s attack.
Diego Rossi (M, 8 goals, 7 assists) – Expected to start.
FC Cincinnati:
Obinna Nwobodo (M) – Questionable (knock).
Matt Miazga (D) – Fit and expected to anchor the back line.
Luciano Acosta (M, 14 goals, 15 assists) – Fully fit and the creative heartbeat.
🔑 Player Matchups
Cucho Hernández (CLB) vs. Matt Miazga (CIN): Crew’s top scorer must find space against Cincinnati’s defensive leader.
Diego Rossi (CLB) vs. Alvas Powell (CIN): Rossi’s pace on the wing could stretch Cincinnati’s back line.
Luciano Acosta (CIN) vs. Darlington Nagbe (CLB): MVP-caliber playmaker against Columbus’ midfield anchor.
Aaron Boupendza (CIN, 12 goals) vs. Rudy Camacho (CLB, CB): Aerial and physical battle in the box.
Team Form
Columbus Crew SC:
Last 5: L–W–D–L–D
Goals: 55 scored, 49 conceded (+6 GD)
Home Record: 9-3-5
FC Cincinnati:
Last 5: W–W–W–D–W
Goals: 62 scored, 41 conceded (+21 GD)
Away Record: 11-4-2 (best in East)
Series History
2025 Meetings:
Oct 27, 2025: CIN 1–0 CLB (Playoffs Game 1)
Aug 2025: CIN 2–1 CLB
May 2025: CLB 3–2 CIN
All-Time at Lower.com Field: Columbus has taken points in 4 of 5 meetings, but Cincinnati won here in 2024.
Betting Trends
Columbus: Unbeaten in last 12 home MLS matches (regular season), scoring in all of them.
Cincinnati: 11 away wins in 2025, most in MLS.
3 of last 4 “Hell is Real” derbies have been decided by 1 goal or fewer.
Cincinnati has never won a playoff game away from home in regulation.
MATCH ODDS
Columbus Crew SC – 120 Draw + 280 FC Cincinnati + 260
Over 3.5 + 130 Under 3.5 – 165
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, November 1, 2025
