Sergio Busquets injury update, Lionel Messi against Orlando, CONCACAF Champions

Every week this MLS season we’ll be bringing you Miami Missive, your one-stop shop for everything Inter Miami.

Inter Miami supporters can have few complaints about the team’s start to the 2024 campaign. The Herons got their season underway with four points from their opening two MLS fixtures; an opening night victory over Real Salt Lake and a hard-fought 1-1 draw against a much-improved LA Galaxy side.

But, despite those results, the Herons are yet to really click. They were outplayed by the Galaxy last weekend and needed a fortuitous red card a some injury time magic from Lionel Messi to snatch a point. LA’s direct wingplay and speed in transition caused havoc in the Herons defence and the visitors needed an inspired performance from Drake Callender to remain in the game.

On Saturday Miami host Florida rivals Orlando City in the first Turnpike Derby of 2024. Here’s your Miami Missive for Friday, 1 March...

Sergio Busquets reveals injury issues

Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets started in both of Inter Miami’s opening two fixtures, missing just six minutes of action so far this season. Busquets has been fielded alongside Julian Gressel and Diego Gomez, who can provide the physical qualities that the World Cup winner no longer possesses.

Tata Martino is clearly intent on building his midfield around the metronomic Busquets but the 35-year-old revealed this week that he is still struggling with an injury sustained during preseason. Busquets received a whack on the ankle during a friendly against Vissel Kobe and told journalists on Wednesday that he does not feel 100% match-fit.

“I think that for me it was difficult after Japan, after the injury, to find the right feeling on the field again because I am not at 100%,” he explained. “Little by little I have felt better physically, the ankle is no longer so swollen and it allows me to do more things. It still bothers me a little, I’m playing bandaged, with treatments.”

Despite that issue Busquets has trained with the team this week, taking part in the ‘lighter’ sessions completed by the ex-Barcelona quartet. The Spaniard is taking things easy on the training field this week but looks set to feature from the start again against Orlando on Saturday.

You can follow every kick of Inter Miami's MLS campaign with the MLS Season Pass on AppleTV.

Lionel Messi looking forward to Orlando rematch

The last time Inter Miami hosted Orlando City was in August 2023, a Leagues Cup fixture between the two Florida rivals. Orlando were one of the strongest sides in MLS last year, finishing second to FC Cincinnati in the Supporters’ Shield standings and securing a franchise-best finish in the Eastern Conference.

But Oscar Pareja’s side had the misfortune of facing an Inter Miami side rejuvenated by the mid-season arrival of Lionel Messi and the Argentine’s incredible Leagues Cup-winning form. The August fixture finished 3-1 to Inter Miami; Messi contributed two goals and a stellar performance that ranks among his best to date in a Miami shirt.

In that game Inter Miami played a 4-3-3 with Messi and Robert Taylor as the wide forwards. Busquets started in the middle of midfield with two more energetic/less stationary players (Dixon Arroyo and Benjamin Cremaschi) on either side. Expect Tata Martino to opt for a similar system on Saturday, although Miami will have to contend with Orlando’s arsenal of attacking options.

In addition to keeping top scorer Duncan McGuire and the mercurial Facundo Torres, Orlando added real experience over the off-season in Luis Muriel and Nicolas Lodeiro. This weekend’s Turnpike Derby brings together two of the most talented rosters in MLS and could be an early signifier of the team to watch in the East.

Inter Miami discover first-ever CONCACAF opponents

Miami’s 2023 Leagues Cup triumph secured qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the first time in team history. The Herons, as Leagues Cup champions, received a bye through Round One and they are set to join from the Round of 16 phase of the competition.

The identity of their opponents was confirmed on Wednesday evening when Nashville SC completed a 7-0 aggregate thrashing of Dominican side Moca. Miami and Nashville faced off twice in cup competitions in 2023 and the Herons got the better of both the Leagues Cup and US Open Cup meetings. Their most-recent MLS fixture was a 0-0 draw, the first time Miami had failed to score since the arrival of Messi and co. nine games earlier.

The CONCACAF Champions Cup clash will be a two-legged affair, with Nashville hosting on Thursday 7 March and the return fixture taking place in Miami on Wednesday 13 March.

“We have the huge challenge that is the ConcaChampions, which seems to be, because of the prize that’s on offer, the most important competition we are playing in,” Herons head coach Tata Martino said last month.

The winner of the renamed, revamped competition will receive more than $5 million in prize money, a five-fold increase on the amount on offer. The victors will also qualify for the new 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, which is set to begin in 2025 and will feature the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and many of the finest teams on the planet.