NYCFC vs Columbus Crew preview: Can the Pigeons ever win again in Columbus? | OneFootball

After winning their first two home games of the season, New York City FC has another tough road game in the early part of the 2025 campaign.  The Pigeons will head to Columbus, to play against the Columbus Crew.  The Black and Gold have had the team’s number, for the Boys in Blue last beat the home side in 2022.

To make matters worse, NYCFC has not won in Columbus since 2017.  For some reason, they have struggled immensely in the old stadium and the new one.  It did not matter whether the Pigeons had one of their stronger squads or whether it was a difficult year; the city has been their kryptonite.

While the road concerns remain, could NYCFC finally win again in Columbus?  Both teams will be missing a few starters for international duty.  The difference is that the Crew will be missing three starters while the Pigeons will miss just one.  Unfortunately, the lone starter missing is Alonso Martínez, who is the leading scorer for the Boys in Blue.  Plus, historically the struggles have occurred no matter what.

It would be amazing for the Bronx side to finally win for the first time in years, but the likelihood remains slim.  Here is a preview of the upcoming match between NYCFC and the Columbus Crew.

NYCFC vs Columbus Crew preview

Date

NYCFC and the Columbus Crew will face off on Saturday, March 22.

Time

The match is at 7:30 PM ET.

Location

The game will take place at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.

How to watch

Supporters can watch the match on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass.

Weather

Saturday’s game will be a chilly one since it will be around 44 degrees.  It will be mostly clear when the fixture begins, with the skies completely clear by the end of the fixture.  Thankfully, this means rain will not be in the forecast.

Injury report

Multiple players will miss the Columbus game, leaving the Pigeons thin on the bench. Jacob Arroyave (knee), Nico Cavallo (leg), Tayvon Gray (leg), Malachi Jones (leg), and Andrés Perea (hip) are all out due to injury.  In addition, the following players are away on international duty: Drew Baiera, Martínez, Tomás Romero, and Zidane Yañez.

Players to watch

The player to watch for NYCFC is Mounsef Bakrar.  The Algerian should get the start with Martínez out, and this will be his time to prove he can still play as the striker.  The forward has struggled after his brilliant arrival where he shined in his first few games as a Pigeon.  Since, then, his lack of goals has turned him into the most criticized player on the team.  Bakrar will have a ton of pressure on his shoulders, so will he be able to rise up to the occasion?

Then, supporters should also watch Jacen Russell-Rowe on the Crew.  The young forward has slowly grown into a starter on the team.  With the departure of Cucho Hernández, the Canadian has started all four games this year, scoring twice on eight shots.  Russell-Rowe has the capability to turn into a lethal scorer, so the Pigeons must be wary of him.

Both sides will miss multiple players due to injury and international duty.  This might have been the game where the Bronx side could have achieved their first win in years in Columbus, but alas, that is not the prediction.  Instead, it is predicted that NYCFC and the Crew will finish the match in a 1-1 draw.  It will be a grind for the Pigeons, but the defense will step up again to secure a point.