By Favian Renkel
Columbus Crew conclude Phase One of the 2025 Leagues Cup on August 5, when they host Liga MX side Club León at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. local time, with the match streaming live on Apple TV via MLS Season Pass.
HEAD TO HEAD
- 1st meeting all-time
- Record at Leagues Cup: Columbus (8-2), León (0-2)
LAST FIVE GAMES
- Columbus
- 2 Wins, 1 Draw, 2 Loss
- Lost in penalties vs Toluca in their first game, and came back with a 3-1 win over Puebla
- Club León
- 1 Win, 0 Draws, 4 Losses
- León is already eliminated from contention and looking for their first win in Leagues Cup 2025
MAIN STORYLINES
- Columbus not only needs the win, but to score as many goals as possible for goal differential purposes.
- Diego Rossi already has two goals and an assist this tournament, after having six goals in 2024. His eight Leagues Cup goals are the fourth most all-time.
- James Rodriguez has played the full 90 minutes in four straight games, with León eliminated will he be in starting lineup?
- Can León pull off the upset and play spoiler to the defending champions.
KEY FACTORS
- Columbus:
- The Columbus Crew need goals, and they need a lot of them to help them qualify. Who will step up outside of Rossi.
- Playing against a team thats already eliminated, can they take advantage of a depleted opponent?
- Will Wessam Abou Ali be available? He hasn't played since June 23rd.
- Club León:
- What young players are going to get the start and shine for Club Leon?
- Can Club Leon take something positive away from Leagues Cup?
WHAT TO EXPECT
Columbus find themselves in a position few anticipated. After collecting four points from their first two games, the Crew remain firmly in the hunt for a spot in the Knockout Stage. The mission is clear: win in regulation and score as many goals as possible. With León already eliminated, Columbus have a prime opportunity to improve their standing—especially playing at home.
The Crew are currently tied with Minnesota United, LA Galaxy, Orlando City, FC Cincinnati, and New York Red Bulls—each with four points and one match to play. Among those, only Minnesota and LA Galaxy boast a superior goal differential, placing Columbus in a winnable yet urgent scenario. A dominant attacking performance could be the difference.
Playing at home in front of a likely sellout crowd provides an added boost. However, Columbus will face the disadvantage of kicking off before the other four-point teams, meaning they’ll need to play as though every goal counts—because it might. Head coach Wilfried Nancy is expected to deploy an aggressive, front-foot lineup with a priority on early goals and attacking intent.
There is, however, another path to qualification. If Columbus win in regulation and any of Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders, or Portland Timbers lose their third match, the Crew would jump to seven points—potentially bypassing goal differential altogether.
For León, this is the end of the road. After back-to-back losses, the 2021 Leagues Cup champions have been eliminated from contention. Manager Eduardo Berizzo may use the occasion to rotate the squad, rest veterans like James Rodríguez, and give minutes to younger talent eager to impress. While the club’s attention may now turn to Liga MX, they’ll still aim to finish with pride.
With the stakes high and the table congested, this is a must-win scenario for Columbus. Whether their path forward comes down to goal differential or help from elsewhere, only a convincing victory will keep their Leagues Cup dreams alive.
