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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Kick-off: 1530 ET, 26/02/2022
Stadium: Lower.com Field
TV: TSN/ESPN+
Columbus are hot favourites to kick off the new MLS campaign by beating Vancouver but the Whitecaps do have a good record against the Crew.
The visitors are unbeaten in five head-to-head meetings, picking up two away wins and three home draws, so history is on their side.
We’re happy to take 2.55 for Vanni Sartini’s side to avoid defeat again here in our first Columbus Crew vs Vancouver Whitecaps prediction.
Despite moving to an impressive new stadium, Columbus slipped from being MLS Cup winners in 2020 to 17th in the overall table last season.
However, finishing off with a hat-trick of victories at least offered hope of getting back on track this term.
Harrison Afful and Milton Valenzuela have moved on, with Ghana winger Yaw Yeboah and Australia centre-half Milos Degenek the key additions.
Experienced striker Gyasi Zardes has 235 MLS goals to his credit with LA Galaxy and Columbus while Argentina-born playmaker Lucas Zelarayan is another proven performer.
The Crew lacked pace last season, though, and that could well be an issue again with an ageing spine to their side.
Their opponents had a league-high 10 away draws in 2021 and 4.2 for a stalemate stands out from the Columbus Crew vs Vancouver Whitecaps odds.
Italian coach Sartini breathed new life into Vancouver after stepping up from the Under-23s side to replace Marc Dos Santos last August.
The Whitecaps picked up seven wins and five draws from his 14 games in charge, earning the 45-year-old a well-deserved full-time contract in the top job.
Vancouver could look fragile in defence but really impressed on the break, with Brian White and Cristian Dajome ending up in double figures for goals.
Scottish midfielder Ryan Gauld is expected to build on the promise he showed after joining last summer and Tristan Blackmon looks a nice addition this season.
Vancouver climbed up from 17th in 2020 to 12th in 2021 and more improvement is possible, especially if young keeper Thomas Hasal can fill the void left by Maxime Crepeau’s departure.
The Whitecaps had five 2-2 draws in the first half of last year but then five of their next seven stalemates were 1-1.
Let’s finish off our Columbus Crew vs Vancouver Whitecaps betting tips by taking 8.25 for that latter scoreline.
Additional stats
Last MLS result:
COLUMBUS 2-0 Chicago – Lucas Zelarayan
VANCOUVER 1-1 Seattle – Ryan Gauld
Head-to-head: Vancouver 1-1 Columbus, Columbus 1-2 Vancouver, Vancouver 2-2 Columbus
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