TolucaColumbus Crew

The Leagues Cup clash will be played between Columbus Crew (MLS, 25 league matches: 41-36 goal difference, 3.08 goals/match) and the recent Mexican champion Toluca (Liga MX, 3 league matches: 10-7 goal difference, 5.67 goals/match) in the USA. • Toluca showed goal-rich, open play in all three competitive matches: 3-1, 4-2, 3-4. • Columbus is effective in attack away (1.55 GF) and vulnerable in defense (1.82 GA). They scored in 9 out of 11 away matches and conceded in 8; • Their home/neutral pitch xG data total: Toluca 2.4 xGF + Columbus 1.2 xGF = 3.6 expected goals, with both teams allowing around 1.4-1.8 xGA. • Helinho (Toluca) has scored in 3/3 matches; • Columbus's absentees (Amundsen, Farsi, Camacho) affect their defensive depth; Toluca arrives with nearly a full squad.