Mendez backs 'big things' for Columbus as Crew host Messi-less Inter Miami

The Columbus Crew still harbour genuine hopes of reaching the MLS playoffs this season, and Brais Mendez believes the best is yet to come from Laurent Courtois' side as they prepare to welcome Inter Miami to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field this weekend.

The Crew kept their playoff ambitions alive with a 2-0 win over CF Montreal last time out, second-half goals from Mohamed Farsi and Mendez sealing all three points. That victory ended a two-game losing stretch and moved Courtois' side to 13th in the Eastern Conference, although they remain six points adrift of FC Cincinnati in ninth.

Columbus also have the US Open Cup final to look forward to on October 21, with Western Conference high-flyers St. Louis City SC their opponents in the showpiece match at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.

'Everything is a process'

Since signing a three-year deal with Columbus in July, Mendez has scored three times in nine MLS appearances, including a brilliant direct free-kick against Montreal. The Spanish midfielder, still adjusting to life in Ohio, is confident the Crew are in for an exciting end to the season if they can maintain their momentum.

"Everything is a process, and everything needs its time, especially for me to adapt to my team-mates, the club, the culture, the hot weather of Columbus," Mendez said. "The humidity is different to Spain's. I feel better now and more connected to my team-mates. I am very happy to help the team and be here. Big things will come. I am sure of it."

Explaining his match-winning free-kick against Montreal, Mendez added: "I knew that the goalkeeper thought that I was going to cross the ball, I knew I could catch him by surprise. That's why I tried to place it as far as possible from him so he would not be able to reach it at the far post. I hit it well and I scored."

Miami missing Messi and more

The Crew come up against a Miami side sitting third in the East following a 2-2 draw with San Diego FC last weekend, in which Anders Dreyer netted an 82nd-minute equaliser. Lionel Messi had cancelled out Dreyer's opener, with Luis Suarez turning the contest in Miami's favour in the 74th minute only for the Herons to concede shortly afterwards.

However, Inter Miami head coach Cristian Gonzalez will be without several of his starting players. Messi is preparing for his final match for Argentina against Benin on October 6, while German Berterame, Fricio Caicedo, Rodrigo De Paul, Lovend's Delinois, Matias Galarza, Daniel Pinter, Alex Shaw and Dayne St. Clair are also away on international duty with their respective nations.

"Yes, obviously in this kind of situation. Being in such an important team, we have national team players, and we have to adapt," Gonzalez said. "I always say the same thing, when you have a squad that is not so prolonged in terms of players, we have to find a way and try to put together the best team to go there and win the game."

Players to watch

Columbus Crew - Brais Mendez: Mendez's strike in the win over Montreal was his second direct free-kick goal, and the Crew's third of the year, after Columbus had scored just one regular-season direct free-kick goal from 2023 to 2025. He is only the second Crew player in the last decade with multiple direct free-kick goals in a season, after Lucas Zelarayan in 2021 and 2022.

Inter Miami - Luis Suarez: With Messi absent, the veteran Uruguayan will lead Miami's attack. Suarez has 13 goals in 22 MLS appearances this season and boasts four goal involvements (three goals, one assist) in four league matches against the Crew.

Match prediction

Miami are unbeaten in eight straight regular-season matches against Columbus (W6 D2), last losing to the Crew in August 2022, making this the Herons' longest unbeaten run against a single opponent in league play in club history. Since returning from the World Cup break, Miami have won just one of the eight regular-season matches in which Messi has contributed to a goal (D5 L2); prior to that they had failed to win just 11 times in 46 league matches with a Messi goal involvement.

Columbus, meanwhile, won for just the second time in nine regular-season matches last time out, and have just one set of consecutive league wins since July 2025. OPTA's win probability has the hosts at 33.7%, the draw at 23.2% and Inter Miami as favourites at 43.1%.