Inter Miami is back in MLS action this Sunday at home, facing FC Dallas. Lionel Messi`s team is striving to challenge for the Supporters` Shield. The Herons currently sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, but they hold two games in hand. A victory could elevate them to second place, placing them just one point behind the leaders, Philadelphia Union. This particular match falls between the two legs of their Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal against Vancouver Whitecaps. Inter Miami trails 2-0 on aggregate after losing the first leg away in Canada.
FC Dallas has had an inconsistent start to their season, holding an even record of three wins, three draws, and three losses. This puts them in 10th place in the Western Conference, just outside the current playoff positions. A positive result in South Florida could be a sign that they are finding their rhythm in Eric Quill`s first season as head coach.
Match Information and Odds
- Date:
- Sunday, April 27
- Time:
- 5 p.m. ET
- Location:
- Chase Stadium — Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- Live Stream:
- MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+
- Odds:
- Inter Miami -120; Draw +270; FC Dallas +290
Key Storylines
The primary question surrounding every Inter Miami match, and particularly this one, is Lionel Messi`s participation. Many consider the midweek Concacaf Champions Cup fixtures against Vancouver Whitecaps to be more critical, especially after Messi played the entire 90 minutes on artificial turf during the lengthy away trip on Thursday.
Reports indicate that both Messi and Luiz Suarez were absent from the initial part of Saturday`s training session, according to ESPN. Head coach Javier Mascherano mentioned that Messi experienced fatigue following the Thursday match. This suggests that squad rotation is likely for Sunday`s game, representing a shift in Mascherano`s usual strategy. Earlier this month, between the two legs of their CCC quarterfinal against LAFC, Mascherano fielded his strongest team to bounce back from their first-leg loss. While that approach resulted in a 1-1 MLS draw against Toronto FC on that specific occasion, their subsequent 3-1 victory over LAFC in the CCC return leg justified the decision.
Prediction
While this match might present more challenges for Miami than usual, the team has demonstrated that they can secure results even without Messi and Suarez. The game may not be the most thrilling spectacle, but they should be capable of overcoming a struggling Dallas team that appears to be in the early stages of development under their new coach.
Predicted Score: Inter Miami 1, FC Dallas 0
