Inter Miami returns to MLS league play on Sunday as they host FC Dallas. Lionel Messi and his side are continuing their campaign with aspirations of winning the Supporters` Shield. The Herons are currently positioned fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. However, they hold two games in hand and a victory could propel them into second place, just one point behind the current leaders, the Philadelphia Union.
This domestic fixture is strategically placed between the first and second legs of Inter Miami`s Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal clash against Vancouver Whitecaps. Miami is currently trailing 2-0 on aggregate after suffering a loss in the away leg in Canada.
FC Dallas, their opponents, have had a rather average start to their season. Their record stands perfectly balanced with three wins, three draws, and three losses. This performance places them in 10th position in the Western Conference, sitting just outside the playoff qualification spots at this early stage of the league campaign. A strong performance and positive result in South Florida could signal that they are heading in the right direction under the guidance of their new head coach, Eric Quill.
Key Match Details
The match is scheduled for Sunday, April 27th, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. ET. The game will take place at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Fans looking to watch the action live can find the broadcast on MLS Season Pass available through Apple TV+.
Match Storylines and Team News
A major talking point ahead of every Inter Miami match, and particularly this one, is whether Lionel Messi will feature. Many observers note that Miami`s more critical fixtures currently are the midweek Champions Cup ties. Messi played the full 90 minutes on Thursday during a lengthy away trip to Vancouver on an artificial turf pitch.
Reports indicate that both Messi and teammate Luis Suarez were absent for the initial part of Inter Miami`s training session on Saturday. Coach Javier Mascherano has mentioned that Messi experienced fatigue following the Thursday match. Therefore, squad rotation is considered probable for Sunday`s game. This approach represents a shift from Mascherano`s previous strategy. For instance, between the two legs of their CCC quarterfinal against LAFC earlier this month, Mascherano opted to field a strong starting lineup in the MLS game to try and overcome the feeling of their first-leg loss. That particular MLS match against Toronto FC ended in a 1-1 draw, but the subsequent 3-1 victory over LAFC in the return leg justified the decision-making at the time.
Prediction
While this fixture might present more challenges for Miami compared to some others, the team has previously shown resilience and the capability to secure results even without the presence of Messi and Suarez. The match might not be the most spectacular or high-scoring affair, but Inter Miami should possess sufficient quality to overcome a mid-table Dallas team that is still seemingly in the foundational phase under their new coaching setup.
Predicted Score: Inter Miami 1, FC Dallas 0
