MATCH PREVIEW: Pachuca looks for their first three points against Columbus Crew

By Alex Thierry

Pachuca will face Columbus Crew in ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in desperate need of a victory to keep their Leagues Cup hopes alive.

HEAD-TO-HEAD:

• 2nd meeting all-time (Pachuca won 3-0 in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup)
• Record at Leagues Cup: Columbus Crew (10-2), Pachuca (3-6)

LAST FIVE GAMES:

• Columbus:
  • 2 Wins, 2 Draws, 1 Loss
• Pachuca:
  • 2 Wins, 0 Draws, 3 Losses

MAIN STORYLINES:

• Columbus Crew has scored at least one goal in nine straight matches.
• With five shots on target, the Crew managed to convert three goals and defeat Atlas 3-1 in their opening match.
• Pachuca will be looking to bounce back after falling 3-1 to FC Cincinnati in their tournament debut.
• Los Tuzos introduced Benjamín Mora as their new head coach for the start of the season.
• The teams will face each other for the first time on U.S. soil. Their only previous meeting was in Mexico.

KEY FACTORS:

• Columbus:
  • Taha Habroune continues to emerge as one of the Crew's brightest attacking talents earning Man of the Match honors in their opening match.
  • César Ruvalcaba, Sean Zawadzki y Brais Méndez all scored in their 3-1 win vs Atlas.
  • Wessam Abou Ali leads the team with five goals but has missed time recently due to an injury.
• Pachuca:
  • Pachuca will need to be better protecting leads after surrendering advantages in each of its last two matches.
  • Adrián Alcaraz scored Pachuca's lone goal in their opening match, it was his first goal with the team (3rd appearance).

WHAT TO EXPECT?

Set pieces proved to be the difference in the Columbus Crew's 3-1 victory over Atlas FC in its Leagues Cup opener, and tonight the MLS side will look to move one step closer to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Pachuca took an early lead in its tournament debut but ultimately fell 3-1 to FC Cincinnati after struggling to contain one of the league's most in-form attacks.

Columbus will aim to control possession as it did in its opening match, using its movement and quality in wide areas to create scoring opportunities from crosses and set pieces. Pachuca, however, is expected to apply an aggressive high press, looking to win the ball back quickly and generate dangerous chances in transition.

The contrasting styles should make for an entertaining matchup in which every moment could prove decisive. Columbus boasts one of the tournament's most dangerous attacks, while Pachuca knows it must raise its intensity and rediscover its best form. As winger Oussama Idrissi said ahead of the match, the Tuzos are focused on getting the victory—but this time, the stakes are even higher.

A win would put Columbus in an excellent position to secure a place in the quarterfinals, while Pachuca enters the night with virtually no margin for error. Those contrasting stakes should make this one of the most compelling matchups of the evening.

Fresh off an impressive opening-night victory, the Columbus Crew have claimed 43% of the market, while Pachuca sits at 33% as both clubs battle for a crucial three points.