Inter Miami is set to return to MLS action at home on Sunday, facing FC Dallas. Lionel Messi`s team is currently positioned fifth in the Eastern Conference, but they hold two games in hand. A victory in this match could see them climb to second place, just one point adrift of the league leaders, the Philadelphia Union.
However, this MLS fixture is strategically placed between the two legs of their Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal against Vancouver Whitecaps. Inter Miami faces a challenge in that tie, currently trailing 2-0 on aggregate following their loss in Canada.
FC Dallas, on the other hand, has experienced an inconsistent start to their season, maintaining a perfectly balanced record of three wins, three draws, and three losses. This record places them in the tenth position in the Western Conference standings, just outside the current playoff qualification spots. Securing a positive result in South Florida could signal that the team is progressing under the guidance of their new head coach, Eric Quill.
How to Watch Inter Miami vs. FC Dallas, Odds
- Date: Sunday, April 27
- Time: 5 p.m. ET
- Location: Chase Stadium — Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- Live stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+
- Odds: Inter Miami -120; Draw +270; FC Dallas +290
Key Storylines
The central talking point ahead of any Inter Miami game revolves around the availability of Lionel Messi, and this weekend is no exception, perhaps even more so. With the crucial Champions Cup semifinal second leg approaching, and Messi having played the full 90 minutes on a challenging turf pitch during the lengthy away trip to Vancouver on Thursday, his fitness and potential involvement are under scrutiny.
Reports indicated that both Messi and Luis Suarez missed a portion of Saturday`s training session. Coach Javier Mascherano confirmed Messi felt fatigued after the midweek match. This suggests that squad rotation is likely for Sunday`s league fixture, representing a shift from Mascherano`s previous strategy during a similar period between Champions Cup quarterfinal legs against LAFC, where he fielded a strong lineup in the MLS match. That approach resulted in a draw against Toronto FC, but was ultimately justified by their victory in the return leg against LAFC.
Match Prediction
Despite the possibility of key players like Messi and Suarez either missing out or having limited roles, Inter Miami has demonstrated the capacity to secure results. While this match might not be the most spectacular game, they are expected to be capable of defeating a mid-table FC Dallas side that is still in the process of finding its rhythm under a new head coach.
Prediction: Inter Miami 1, FC Dallas 0
Dominic Ashworth