Inter Miami and New England Revolution will lock horns at the Chase Stadium this weekend.
Inter Miami will be looking to make history on Saturday when they host the New England Revolution at Chase Stadium. The Herons are on the brink of setting an MLS regular-season points record, needing a victory to achieve this feat.
Meanwhile, the New England Revolution, who currently hold the record, will be playing for pride as they try to avoid finishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference after suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat against the Columbus Crew.
With a late goal securing a 1-0 win against Toronto last week, Miami have shown a knack for dramatic victories, having won four games this season with stoppage-time goals. The Herons are chasing the all-time MLS single-season goals record, having scored 73 goals, just one behind the 2017 Toronto FC and 1998 DC United squads.
Currently unbeaten in their last seven home matches, Tata Martino’s side has turned their home ground into a fortress, suffering fewer home defeats than any other team in the Eastern Conference.
On the other side, the Revolution’s 2024 campaign has been a challenging one. A slow start to the season has seen them miss the playoffs for the second time in three years. Their current form isn’t much better, with only one win in their last nine MLS matches.
On the road, New England have been woeful, losing five consecutive away games, and their defensive struggles have been glaring. A win against Miami would help them avoid finishing at the bottom of the table, but even that would not be enough to erase what has been a disappointing season. The Hard Tackle delves into the potential elevens and tactics for this highly-anticipated clash.
Team News & Tactics
Inter Miami
Inter Miami will be without several key players for this weekend’s match. David Martinez remains sidelined due to a right adductor strain, while CJ dos Santos is out with a sore hand. Lawson Sunderland continues to deal with a hamstring issue, and Leo Afonso is also unavailable due to a groin strain.
Additionally, long-term absentees Nicolas Freire and Facundo Farias, both recovering from ACL injuries, are not expected to feature. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets are unlikely to start but could make substitute appearances if Miami find themselves needing a goal.
On a positive note, Federico Redondo and Marcelo Weigandt will return from yellow card suspensions, adding to the midfield options. Leonardo Campana, who scored the decisive goal against Toronto, will likely start up front again, while Oscar Ustari, who kept a clean sheet last time out, may retain his place in goal as Drake Callender was rested in that game.
They are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 setup. In this formation, Oscar Ustari is expected to start in goal, with Tomas Aviles, Serhiy Kryvtsov, and Noah Allen forming a back three. Julian Gressel and Yannick Bright will operate as wing-backs, while David Ruiz and Federico Redondo will control the midfield. Matias Rojas and Robert Taylor will provide the creative impetus, with Leonardo Campana leading the line.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Ustari; Aviles, Kryvtsov, Allen; Gressel, Ruiz, Redondo, Bright; Rojas, Taylor; Campana
New England Revolution
New England Revolution are likely to rest several key players with little left to play for this season. Former league MVP Carles Gil is recovering from a knock and is not expected to feature. Will Sands, who started their last match despite a hip injury, is also a doubt, and Tomas Chancalay is ruled out due to a knee issue.
On the brighter side, players returning from international duty, including Peyton Miller, Xavier Arreaga, Alhassan Yusuf, and Esmir Bajraktarevic, could be in contention to play. In their previous match, Ian Harkes made his 50th MLS start, while Dylan Borrero completed his first full 90 minutes since September 14, showing he is nearing full fitness.
New England Revolution are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation where Aljaz Ivacic will start in goal, with Brandon Bye, Tim Parker, Dave Romney, and Will Sands forming the back four. Matt Polster and Mark-Anthony Kaye will anchor the midfield, while Nacho Gil, Ian Harkes, and Emmanuel Boateng will support striker Giacomo Vrioni in the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ivacic; Bye, Parker, Romney, Sands; Polster, Kaye; Nacho Gil, Harkes, Boateng; Vrioni
Key Stats
- Inter Miami have won ten regular-season matches at home this year, setting a new club record for home victories in a single campaign. They are on a seven-match domestic unbeaten run at Chase Stadium, suffering fewer home defeats than any other team in the Eastern Conference.
- Four of Inter Miami’s domestic victories this season have come thanks to goals scored in second-half stoppage time, showcasing their ability to grind out wins late in matches.
- New England Revolution have lost five consecutive away matches in MLS, conceding three or more goals in four of those games. Their form on the road has been a significant factor in their failure to make the playoffs this season.
- With 73 goals scored this season, Miami have the third-highest tally in a single MLS campaign. They are only two goals behind the 1998 LA Galaxy and 2019 LAFC teams, who both scored 85 goals – the most in a single MLS season.
- The Revolution have conceded 14 goals in their last five matches, and with no clean sheet during that period, they are struggling defensively. Their defence will need to improve significantly if they are to stop Inter Miami’s high-scoring attack.
Player to Watch
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is always a player to keep an eye on, even when there are doubts about his starting the game. His ability to change the game, whether starting or coming off the bench, remains unparalleled. Despite dealing with fitness concerns recently, Messi’s influence on Inter Miami’s play has been immense since his arrival.
Messi’s playmaking vision, creativity, and goal-scoring ability make him the key figure to watch in this matchup against New England Revolution. Should he make an appearance, expect Messi to control the tempo and potentially be decisive in turning the game in Miami’s favour.
Prediction
Inter Miami 3-1 New England Revolution
Inter Miami come into this match in much better form, especially at home, and with the motivation of setting a league record, it is hard to see anything but a Miami victory here. New England’s defensive frailties away from home are likely to be exploited by Inter Miami’s potent attack. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Gerardo Martino and his charges.