Inter Miami vs Nashville SC, MLS preview: Messi’s side looking for another win

Football is back in MLS and this Wednesday (7:30p.m. ET) Inter Miami return home after beating NYRB to face an old enemy: Nashville SC. The Fort Lauderdale side overcame their rivals in the Leagues Cup final just 11 days ago and now the team led by Gary Smith has the chance to exact revenge on the unstoppable force in pink.

However, Gerardo Martino’s side come into the game in fine form, having beaten the New York Red Bulls in Messi’s MLS debut, where he came off the bench to gift us with one of the passes of the season, setting up the second goal that sentenced the tie in New Jersey.

Inter Miami vs Nashville SC: preview

Now, Inter Miami are on the search of their second consecutive win in the domestic league campaign, something that BM, before Messi, who is set to start tonight, had not happened in the 2023 season. In fact, before they casually signed arguably the best player the game has ever seen, they had not won a football match in six attempts. I guess signing a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has its plus points.

If Inter Miami do continue this incredible run that they have been on and overcome a truly tricky rival in Nashville SC at the DRV PNK Stadium, Tata’s team will have reached a staggering 10 consecutive wins in all competitions. This is something not only that the club had not achieved prior to Messi’s arrival, but something they wouldn’t have thought was statistically possible. Again, it’s nice to have the best player in the world.

However, we can’t forget the opponent and focus solely on Miami and Messi. Nashville are currently 7th in the MLS East standings and as such, they occupy a precious playoff spot that Miami are dreaming of reaching. The home side have no room for error in this crucial clash and perhaps more than Messi magic will be needed to get something out of the game and put points in their pocket.

Messi to leave Miami for international football

The Herons, ahead of the tie, sit in 14th place in the league, having moved off of bottom spot following their win against NYRB. They do, however, still only have 21 points and as such need to continue their furious form if they want to aspire to getting a golden ticket to the postseason party.

Also, Inter Miami are well aware that they will be without their talisman during the upcoming international break, and it’s not because he’s being punished by MLS for slipping out of press duties, as was suggested. No, Messi is actually jetting off to have more football fun with his World Cup-winning teammates in Argentina. Maybe Cermaschi is busy doing knee slides at the training ground as he practices his best impression of the Argentine.