For the first time since switching the lights of European football for MLS, Inter Miami will be without Lionel Messi for this weekend’s fixture against Sporting Kansas City.
Despite Messi’s magical brilliance meaning an unbeaten run of 11 games since he joined Miami, the club are still sitting way behind their goals for the season after ending up in the top seven playoff positions in 2022.
Preparándonos para el sabado 💪 pic.twitter.com/MHBf0JnqNA— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) September 6, 2023
Preparándonos para el sabado 💪 pic.twitter.com/MHBf0JnqNA
In fact, ahead of this fixture, Miami has managed to move off the foot of the Eastern Conference but is still behind Nashville in seventh by 15 points.
Two games in hand due to their triumph in the Leagues Cup where they defeated Nashville on penalties in the final does give Messi and co. a huge chance to get back to where they want to be, however, as most MLS sides take a rest this weekend due to the international break.
After victories in the Leagues Cup saw them defeat the likes of Philadelphia Union 4-21 on the road and Charlotte and Atlanta United 4-0 at home, Miami were by far the best team at that competition.
Better yet, the Florida side has matched this with a spot in the U.S. Open Cup final after beating Cincinnati on penalties following a 3-3 draw.
Since MLS action returned, Miami have gone on to beat the New York Red Bulls at the Red Bull Arena where Messi tapped in another finish after majestic play once more and not long after Diego Gomez also scored.
A 0-0 draw with Nashville would come soon after, but one of the club's greatest-ever victories would come soon after, as they managed to defeat the defending MLS Cup champions, Los Angeles FC, in their own backyard in a 3-1 win that saw Jordi Alba also get his first Miami goal.
As for Kansas, it’s been another struggle for them this season after finishing way adrift of the playoff positions last time out.
However, following on from a winless first nine games in the 2023 MLS season, the club come into this game now four points behind Minnesota United in seventh.
A win here could move Kansas into ninth, but with only eight wins and 11 losses on the board alongside 37 goals let in, it is a tough ask.
Nevertheless, without Messi, Miami has been awful in 2023 and Forebet predicts an away win and under 2.5 goals.