After a loss to Los Angeles FC in the Concacaf Champions Cup, Inter Miami, led by coach Javier Mascherano, will play against Toronto FC at home on Sunday. Miami needs to manage player rotation for both the Champions Cup and this game. However, they`ve shown good squad depth this season, suggesting they can handle it.
Tadeo Allende might miss the game due to injury, but with players like Fafa Picault and Robert Taylor available on the wings, Mascherano has plenty of attacking options. Miami`s loss to LAFC ended Lionel Messi`s streak of scoring or assisting in every game he played this season. Still, Miami has won games without Messi before, making this loss seem like a minor setback rather than a new trend. Winning against Toronto will confirm this.
Match Details
- Date: Sunday, April 6
- Location: Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- How to Watch: MLS Season Pass
- Odds: Inter Miami -230; Draw +360; Toronto FC +600
Previous Matchup
Miami and Toronto last played almost a year ago, with Miami winning 1-0 in May 2024. Both teams have changed a lot since then, including having new coaches this season. Leonardo Campana, who scored Miami`s goal in the last game, is now with the New England Revolution. Miami will need to find another way to score late goals if needed this time.
Coach Perspectives
After the LAFC defeat, there were questions about Messi`s positioning as he played deeper to get the ball. This is the first challenge Miami has faced under their Argentine coach, and their response will show how they will handle the rest of the season.
Mascherano stated he isn`t worried. He believes Messi understands the game exceptionally well and adapts to what is needed. If Messi plays deeper, it`s because he`s finding the best place to receive the ball and impact the game.
Given Miami`s strong season so far, there’s no reason to think the LAFC loss will lead to more losses. However, expectations are high for Mascherano. After a record-breaking season for MLS points, every loss raises concerns about meeting those expectations. This is the pressure he faces despite Miami`s good form.
Team Lineup Questions
How much will the team rotate players? Miami`s main focus is their Concacaf Champions Cup game on Wednesday, but they also need to keep players fresh for other matches. Players need consistent game time, so resting players too much could make them lose sharpness for the Champions Cup. As Mascherano gets more familiar with his team, he will decide when to rotate players. In some positions, especially defense, keeping the same players is important for consistency and teamwork.
Predicted Starting Lineups
Inter Miami: Oscar Ustari, Jordi Alba, Noah Allen, Maximiliano Falcon, Ian Fray, Sergio Busquets, Federico Redondo, Telasco Segovia, Robert Taylor, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi
Toronto FC: Sean Johnson, Raoul Petretta, Nicksoen Gomis, Sigurd Rosted, Tyrese Spicer, Alonso Coello, Jonathan Osorio, Derrick Etienne, Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi, Ola Brynhildsen
Player to Watch
Lorenzo Insigne, Toronto FC: Insigne was expected to have a similar impact to Messi in MLS. He almost left the club in the offseason. With new leadership and more attacking teammates, he could help Toronto become a strong MLS team again. To do this, he needs to perform well in important games like this one against Inter Miami. As one of the highest-paid players in the league, Insigne is under pressure to perform.
Game Story to Follow
Can Miami Recover? This game isn`t a must-win for Miami, but they will want to avoid losing two games in a row before the Champions Cup. The home game against LAFC will be crucial, so getting back to winning form against Toronto is important. It would be even better for Miami if they can win without Messi having to do too much, but Mascherano will mainly want to see a positive response from the team.
Game Prediction
With a better defense this season, Miami should be able to beat Toronto at home. It might be a game with fewer goals than expected because Toronto`s defense has improved, but their attack isn`t strong enough to really trouble Miami yet. Toronto is improving under coach Robin Fraser, but playing against one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference is difficult, especially for a team that was at the bottom of the conference last season. Prediction: Inter Miami 1, Toronto FC 0
