Inter Miami will hope to rediscover that winning touch when they take on New York Red Bulls this weekend.
Inter Miami return to Major League Soccer action on Saturday night, desperate to halt a worrying three-match losing streak across all competitions. The Herons welcome Eastern Conference rivals New York Red Bulls to Chase Stadium, looking to restore some pride after their humiliating exit from the CONCACAF Champions Cup at the hands of Vancouver Whitecaps.
Javier Mascherano’s side were dismantled 5-1 on aggregate by the Canadian outfit, and even the presence of Lionel Messi was not enough to inspire a second-leg revival. After Jordi Alba’s early goal provided a glimmer of hope, Miami were outclassed in the second half, conceding three unanswered goals in a 3-1 home defeat that confirmed their elimination from the tournament.
The loss not only ended their continental ambitions but extended a dismal run that has seen them lose back-to-back games in the Champions Cup alongside a domestic setback against FC Dallas. Now, back on home soil, Inter Miami must regroup quickly to avoid a fourth successive defeat and their first run of consecutive MLS losses since October 2023.
The Herons will also be eager to protect their position in the tightly packed Eastern Conference. Despite having played a game fewer than many of their rivals, they sit just four points off second-placed FC Cincinnati, underlining how one victory could propel them back into the playoff conversation.
Their opponents on Saturday, the New York Red Bulls, have also endured an inconsistent start to the 2025 season. Under Sandro Schwarz, last year’s MLS Cup finalists currently occupy eighth place in the East with 15 points — just one behind seventh-placed Orlando City. The Red Bulls secured a narrow 1-0 win over CF Montréal last weekend, but they have yet to string together back-to-back league victories this term, a frustrating pattern for a side with postseason ambitions.
What is more concerning for Schwarz is their woeful away form. The Red Bulls have not won a regular-season road game since a 4-1 triumph over Toronto FC in October 2024. Their last five away outings in the league have produced no wins and just two goals scored, form that raises serious questions about their ability to capitalise on Miami’s current fragility.
Interestingly, New York’s four league victories this season have all come at Red Bull Arena, with their away form remaining a glaring weakness. They have shown defensive organisation and resilience on the road, picking up draws at Atlanta and Orlando, but the lack of attacking edge away from home continues to stall their momentum.
For both sides, Saturday offers a critical opportunity: Miami to stop the bleeding and New York to finally kick-start their road campaign. Given the stakes and the narrative arcs of both teams, this matchup has all the makings of a tense and closely fought Eastern Conference battle. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Inter Miami
Inter Miami emerged from their midweek Champions Cup elimination without any fresh injury concerns, but head coach Javier Mascherano will still be without two squad members for Saturday’s visit of New York Red Bulls. Midfielders David Ruiz and Baltasar Rodriguez both remain sidelined due to hamstring issues, and neither is expected to recover in time for the weekend clash.
While star man Lionel Messi has gone four games without registering a goal or assist, two of those in MLS, he remains the club’s joint-top scorer this season with three goals, sharing the honour with teammate Telasco Segovia. Despite Messi’s current dry spell, the creative burden has been eased somewhat by Luis Suarez, who leads the team with five assists and has recorded six goal contributions in total this season, one more than Messi, highlighting his ongoing importance in the final third.
Mascherano is expected to deploy his usual 4-2-3-1 system, which allows flexibility in possession and stability in midfield transitions. Oscar Ustari will likely start between the posts. In defence, Marcelo Weigandt is expected to start at right-back, with Maximiliano Falcon and Noah Allen forming the central defensive pairing. Jordi Alba, the experienced full-back, should continue in his familiar left-back role.
In midfield, Tomas Aviles and Sergio Busquets are set to anchor the double pivot, offering both protection to the defence and an outlet in the build-up phase. The attacking midfield line will feature Tadeo Allende on the right, Lionel Messi operating centrally in the No.10 role, and Telasco Segovia on the left. Up front, Luis Suarez will spearhead the attack, with his link-up play and positional intelligence likely to be key against New York’s compact backline.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ustari; Weigandt, Falcon, Allen, Alba; Aviles, Busquets; Allende, Messi, Segovia; Suarez
New York Red Bulls
The New York Red Bulls head into Saturday’s contest in Miami with a considerably depleted squad. Head coach Sandro Schwarz will be without at least five first-team players due to injury, limiting his options as his side seeks their first away win of the 2025 MLS campaign.
Daniel Edelman and Dylan Nealis are both sidelined with hamstring problems, while Roald Mitchell and Lewis Morgan continue their recovery from knee injuries. Additionally, left-back Marcelo Morales is ruled out with a thigh issue, further complicating defensive selections for the visitors.
Amid the injury setbacks, one bright spot for the Red Bulls has been the resurgence of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. After drawing blanks in his first three MLS appearances of the season, the experienced Cameroonian striker has now scored four goals in his last seven matches, establishing himself as the team’s primary attacking threat. With several creative players still sidelined, Choupo-Moting’s form will be central to New York’s hopes of snapping their five-game winless streak on the road.
Sandro Schwarz is expected to stick with a 4-2-3-1 formation, which provides a solid defensive base while giving Choupo-Moting the freedom to operate at the top of the attack. Carlos Coronel will start in goal, protected by a back four consisting of Kyle Duncan at right-back, Sean Nealis and Noah Eile in central defence, and Omar Valencia at left-back in the absence of Morales.
In midfield, Felipe Carballo and Peter Stroud will anchor the double pivot, tasked with shielding the defence and helping progress the ball into the attacking third. Ahead of them, the trio of Cameron Harper on the right, Emil Forsberg through the centre, and Wikelman Carmona on the left will provide support and service for Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, who will lead the line and look to extend his recent scoring form.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Coronel; Duncan, Nealis, Elile, Valencia; Carballo, Stroud; Harper, Forsberg, Carmona; Choupo-Moting
Ways to Watch
Key Stats
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The Herons have lost three consecutive matches in all competitions, two in the CONCACAF Champions Cup and one in MLS. This marks their worst run since October 2023, when they also suffered back-to-back league defeats.
- The Red Bulls have not won a single away match in the 2025 MLS season. Their last regular-season road victory dates back to October 2024, when they beat Toronto FC 4–1. Since then, they are winless in five straight away games.
- Despite being Inter Miami’s joint-top scorer this season (3 goals), Lionel Messi has gone four matches without a goal or assist, his longest dry spell since joining the MLS club. His last goal contribution came in early April.
- Despite their recent struggles, Miami remain difficult to beat at Chase Stadium, having lost just one of their last six home MLS fixtures (W3 D2 L1). They have also scored two or more goals in four of those matches.
Player to Watch
Lionel Messi
Even amid a rare dry spell, Lionel Messi remains the undisputed focal point of Inter Miami’s ambitions, both creatively and psychologically. As the Herons prepare to host the New York Red Bulls, all eyes will once again be on the Argentine legend to inspire a turnaround and halt their three-game losing streak.
Messi enters Saturday’s clash without a goal or assist in his last four competitive appearances, a surprisingly quiet spell for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner. It’s his longest such drought since arriving in Major League Soccer, but even in subdued form, his influence on the pitch remains profound. His ability to dictate tempo, break lines with passing, and draw defenders out of position continues to create space for teammates like Luis Suárez and Telasco Segovia to operate.
Despite his recent struggles, Messi is still Inter Miami’s joint-top scorer in the league with three goals, and his leadership remains a critical intangible for a squad that has looked short on confidence in recent weeks. At Chase Stadium, where the crowd and conditions often lift his performance, Messi’s flair and experience could be the difference in a must-win match.
With Inter Miami sliding down the Eastern Conference standings and in desperate need of a spark, Lionel Messi remains their most likely catalyst. Whether through a moment of individual brilliance or the quiet orchestration of the team’s rhythm, his performance will likely shape the outcome on Saturday night.
Prediction
Inter Miami 2–1 New York Red Bulls
Inter Miami are wounded but back on familiar turf, where the influence of Messi and Alba could tip the balance. New York Red Bulls remain stubborn defensively but haven’t shown enough cutting edge on the road to suggest they will break their away-day duck here.
