Inter Miami will be looking to make it three straight MLS wins when they make the trip to face New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night.
Positioned at opposing ends of the Eastern Conference standings, this Saturday’s MLS fixture pits two sides with contrasting fortunes as the New England Revolution play host to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
Sitting 15th in the Eastern Conference, the New England Revolution have had an underwhelming start to the season. With only five points secured from their opening eight games, their aspirations of bettering last season’s fifth-place finish and subsequent playoff appearance are currently in serious jeopardy.
The joy of winning his first match as Revs manager was short-lived for Caleb Porter, whose side were handily knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup (9-2 on aggregate against Club America) and followed that up with narrow defeats to the NYCFC and Toronto FC.
Inter Miami paint a completely contrasting picture at the top of the table. Leading the Eastern Conference with 18 points from ten games, they have quickly lived up to their billing as one of the favourites for the MLS title this season and are coming into this one off the back of a convincing 3-1 victory against Nashville SC last time out.
Team News & Tactics
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution were without the services of Jonathan Mensah last weekend, along with DeJuan Jones and Tommy McNamara, who are all struggling with hamstring issues, while Brandon Bye and Dylan Borrero are recovering from ACL injuries.
New England were busy in the transfer market this week, adding defender Xavier Arreaga from the Seattle Sounders in exchange for a 2025 international roster slot and General Allocation Money (GAM), as well as signing goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic for the 2025 MLS season.
Young midfielder Noel Buck could lose his place in the starting lineup, with Mark-Anthony Kaye pushing for a place in the XI. Spanish attacking midfielder Carles Gil has been a bright spot in a misfiring Revs attack, which has failed to convert possession and chances into goals, scoring a mere five goals over eight games.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ravas; Lima, Romney, Kessler, Spaulding; Harkes, Polster; N. Gil, C. Gil, Bajraktarevic; Vrioni
Inter Miami
Inter Miami remain without the services of several players down the spine of the team as the likes of Leonardo Campana (hamstring), Ian Fray (ACL), and Robbie Robinson (knee) continue their spells on the sidelines.
Argentine midfielder Facundo Farias has been out of action since sustaining an ACL injury back in January, while Serhiy Kryvtsov is currently recuperating from a hamstring problem. Federico Redondo is on the long-term injury list after tearing his LCL, and Diego Gomez has an ankle problem. Jordi Alba is set to miss the match as part of a multi-week recovery.
With so many injuries, the Herons have been busy adding players to their squad, signing Matias Rojas from Corinthians on Tuesday, while Leo Afonso made his maiden appearance last weekend after joining them earlier this month.
Playmaker Sergio Busquets scored his first of the season for Inter Miami last week and will look to dictate the tempo in the middle of the park here. The last game underlined the formidable challenge posed by Inter Miami’s attacking duo, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, whose prowess proved pivotal in dismantling opposition defences.
However, the duo’s availability to play on artificial turf remains up in the air. Suarez avoided artificial turf while playing in Brazil last season due to knee pain. His status will also be worth watching alongside Messi, who has only just returned to full fitness after missing four games earlier in the season with a hamstring issue.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Callender; Weigandt, Aviles, Freire, Negri; Bright, Busquets, Ruiz; Messi, Suarez, Afonso
Key Stats
- Inter Miami and New England Revolution are split in the head-to-head record and have won three matches apiece out of the six matches played between the two sides.
- The hosts have won each of the last four games between the New England Revolution and Inter Miami in the MLS, with the Revs scoring 10 goals in their three home wins.
- The New England Revolution have picked up only four points in their eight games in the MLS, the worst start to a season in the club’s history.
- Lionel Messi has found the back of the net in each of his last five matches for Inter Miami.
- The Herons have picked up 18 points in 10 league contests, as many as they collected in their first 21 regular-season affairs last year.
Player to Watch
Lionel Messi
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was at his mercurial best yet again as the Herons cruised to a 3-1 victory at Chase Stadium. They did fall behind within two minutes. But Messi turned the game on its head, with two more goals added to his tally.
Although his involvement on the Revs turf is in doubt here, the Argentine will be keen to help his side rack up as many points as possible in the MLS standings over the next month before the Copa America arrives in June and July.
Prediction
New England Revolution 0-2 Inter Miami
New England’s recent poor form is very concerning, as they enter this game as huge underdogs. And even with all the injuries, the red-hot Herons’ attack should prove all too much for a Revs defence that is looking all over the place and is error-prone.
