The CONCACAF Leagues Cup final will be a repeat of the 2023 MLS Cup final as the Columbus Crew play host to the side they beat to become MLS champions in Los Angeles FC in a mouth-watering clash at Lower.com Field.
These two sides currently look the best in MLS and one of them is going to be crowned the second Leagues Cup winner. The MLS Season Pass on Apple TV has this final covered in full but you can also watch it on the bookmaker live streams.
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew are the reigning MLS Cup champions, only lost out in the final of the Champions Cup earlier in the campaign and are now looking to become the Leagues Cup winners to continue what really is an incredible run of form under Wilfried Nancy. The Crew are a delight to watch and while they had a bye in the group phase of this competition, they fully merit their spot in this final and with home advantage in it the onus is probably on them to win it.
Columbus Crew have ridden their luck at times in this tournament. When they were 2-0 down to Inter Miami they looked like they were going to be bowing out but they turned that around and also came from behind to beat New York City FC on penalties before getting the better of the Philadelphia Union in the semi-final. If they stop shooting themselves in the foot defensively, which isn’t guaranteed because they are not going to change the style that intentionally brings teams onto them, then they are going to be tough to beat here.
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Los Angeles FC
The Columbus Crew are looking great at the minute but it might be that the hottest team in MLS right now is Los Angeles FC, who since this tournament has started have added the likes of Olivier Giroud and Lewis O’Brien to their ranks. They have cruised through to this final and will be hell bent on gaining revenge here, not just for the defeat they suffered at the hands of the Crew in the MLS Cup final but also the 5-1 beating they took at the hands of the champions in Los Angeles as recently as last month.
Los Angeles are looking so good in the forward areas. They have a number of options in that department as well so they can make changes for this final without weakening their front line. Where LAFC are beginning to really impress though is at the back and no longer are teams getting a number of chances to score on them and Hugo Lloris is bailing them out of trouble. If they can defend well here you would fancy them to be a very hard nut to crack.
Betting
I think we have all the ingredients for a cracking final here between certainly two of the best four teams in MLS, if they are not the best two completely. Columbus Crew are technically the best team in the league but in terms of squad depth LAFC have everything they need. Throw in the revenge angle and we really could be in for a special final here. I actually think Los Angeles FC are a bit of value to win the trophy and wouldn’t put anyone off backing it but goals surely have to be the order of the day here.
I know this is a final and they tend to be tighter affairs but there were three goals when these two met in the MLS Cup final here at the end of last season and since then Olivier Giroud has arrived to give even more pep to the LAFC attack while the Crew are doubling down on this playing out from the back and taking risks style of theirs. It has caught them out in a couple of matches in this competition and the high press of the visitors is going to be really interested in that. You just fancy Columbus to score multiple goals on anyone these days though and in what should be an absolute belter of a final over 2.75 goals feels like an obvious play.
Tips
Back Over 2.75 goals for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with Bet365
