Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Preview: Inter Miami vs. Cruz Azul - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 20 July 2023, 22:34
The gaze of the football world will focus on the DRV PNK Stadium this weekend as the Lionel Messi era begins at Inter Miami when they face Mexican outfit Cruz Azul in the new-look Leagues Cup.

While fanfare surrounds the off-field activities of the home side, both teams go into the contest in poor form and needing a win to improve matters on the pitch.

Match preview

Miami is no stranger to sprinklings of stardust, and Inter Miami themselves have their fair share of it already in owner David Beckham, but the arrival of arguably the greatest player of all time has brought an unprecedented level of attention to them in recent weeks.

Messi's legendary career in Europe has now come to an end, but he remains one of the world's best players - as evidenced by his star showing on the way to World Cup glory last winter - and will be keen to show that his trip to the United States is no retirement plan.

However, he and his fellow new arrivals Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba - two more Barcelona legends whose own star power is significant despite being somewhat outshone by the brightest of the lot - have plenty of work to do on the pitch if they are to turn Miami's fortunes around.

The Florida outfit are winless in their last 11 MLS outings, taking just three points from a possible 33 in that time, and find themselves rock-bottom of the Eastern Conference - a wholly unfamiliar position for the most decorated player in football history.

In head coach Gerardo Martino, Messi, Busquets and Alba have a man they know from his time in charge of Barcelona, while he has also worked with Messi at international level with Argentina.

However, the experienced boss has not yet been able to oversee a significant turnaround in form from Phil Neville's ill-fated reign, and after four games in the hotseat he is still waiting for his first win as Miami boss.

Successive draws against Austin FC, Columbus Crew and DC United in his first three games in charge at least halted a seven-match losing streak, but a 3-0 loss to new franchise St Louis City last weekend extended their wait for a league win to more than two months.

The arrivals of Messi and co have come at a perfect time to provide both a distraction and - they will hope - a much-needed injection of quality, then, and a month-long break from MLS duties to focus on the new-look Leagues Cup may also be welcome.

For the first time, this year every club from MLS and Liga MX will participate in the Leagues Cup, with three CONCACAF Champions League places on offer - the winner going straight into the round of 16.

Miami's reinforcements will no doubt change their ambitions regarding every competition they are in, but based on league form alone so far this season, neither of these teams would be fancied to make it too far in this competition.

With Miami have been poor in MLS, Cruz Azul have been even worse in the fledgling Liga MX campaign, losing all three of their games so far.

Ricardo Ferretti's side are the only team in the division yet to pick up a single point, while they have also only scored once during defeats to Atlas, Toluca and Tijuana so far.

For a club that was crowned Mexican champions as recently as 2021, and a six-time winner of the CONCACAF Champions League, it is a disastrous start to the season, although they may welcome being the 'other' team in this fixture with all of the focus on the opposition.

Atlanta United make up the Southern Group Three in this year's Leagues Cup, and on current form Cruz Azul would also go into that match as underdogs, raising the importance of getting a result this weekend.

The formbook certainly suggestions that Inter Miami will be their best source of points in the group, but the home side are an entirely different proposition now to the one they have been all season.

Inter Miami form (all competitions):

Cruz Azul form (all competitions):

Team News

DRV PNK Stadium is sold out for this match, and the fans will flock to see one man more than any other, with Messi confirmed as available to make his debut.

Whether that is from the start or not remains to be seen given that he has not played for more than a month, but the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner is almost certain to feature at some point.

The same is true for fellow legendary figure Sergio Busquets, who has joined Messi in training throughout the week and should also make his debut.

Jordi Alba's arrival has come too late for him to feature in this match, though, while Miami also have a number of injury concerns going into the game.

Martino is still without his captain Gregore due to a foot issue, while his compatriot Jean Mota, left-back Franco Negri and forward Corentin Jean are all long-term absentees too.

Cruz Azul will be without Carlos Vargas for the foreseeable future due to a ruptured cruciate ligament, while fellow defender Juan Escobar is doubtful for this match because of a muscle issue.

However, they will be boosted by the returns of Uriel Antuna and Carlos Rodriguez, who are available again after helping Mexico to CONCACAF Gold Cup glory.

Ferretti has been without the two star men for their winless start to the season, so their returns should coincide with an upturn in form sooner or later.

Inter Miami possible starting lineup:

Callender; Yedlin, Kryvtsov, Miller, Allen; Taylor, Cremaschi, Arroyo, Robinson; Campana, Martinez

Cruz Azul possible starting lineup:

Gudino; Huescas, Ditta, Salcedo, Rivero; Lira, Rodriguez; Antuna, Rotondi, Moises; Cambindo

We say: Inter Miami 2-1 Cruz Azul

This is a difficult game to predict for a variety of reasons, with two out-of-form sides facing off against unfamiliar opposition in a new competition, and both teams having significant reinforcements that should make their previous form less relevant.

Messi's debut will of course make all of the headlines, but it may be another week or so before his quality is truly felt if he starts this one on the bench as expected. The importance of the returns of Antuna and Rodriguez for a Cruz Azul side desperate to spoil the party should also not be overlooked.

However, even a cameo for Messi should be enough for him to have a decisive say, and we are backing a fairytale debut for the maestro, coming on and scoring a late winner for his new side.

Previews by email

Top News

22 November 2024 talksport.com Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed defender Ben White will be sidelined for months after undergoing knee surgery. 22 November 2024 talksport.com The Premier League have announced that their partnership with IMG will end after 20 years for a new media operation. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has provided a fresh update on the fitness of his squad ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City midfielder James McAtee has reportedly been the subject of an "audacious" bid from Leeds United. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams enjoying some superb form will meet at Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, as Lazio and Bologna both aim to extend winning streaks in Serie A. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Erling Haaland sent out a warning shot to the Premier League as Manchester City aim to end their four match losing streak. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Enzo Maresca's King Power Stadium reunion takes place on Saturday lunchtime, as Leicester City and Chelsea prepare for battle in the Premier League's first game back after the international break. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final standings in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League groups have now been confirmed, and attention will now begin to switch to the knockout stage and playoff formats of the competition. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have suffered a defeat in their long-running legal battle with the Premier League, who have seen proposed changes to Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules approved by a majority of teams. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides battling against relegation from Ligue 1 are set to come together on Sunday afternoon when Nantes host Le Havre at Stade de la Beaujoire. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leganes head coach Borja Jimenez will have to make two changes to his starting XI for Sunday's La Liga clash with Real Madrid. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Raul Asencio is in line to make his full debut for Real Madrid in Sunday's La Liga clash with Leganes. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Michail Antonio's professional career has had plenty of unexpected twists and turns. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea star Cole Palmer will be bidding to add to an incredible Premier League record when he lines up against Leicester City on Saturday afternoon. 22 November 2024 talksport.com The Premier League is back and that can only mean one thing. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester City are confident of agreeing a lucrative new contract with Erling Haaland after Pep Guardiola agreed to stay, talkSPORT understands. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to build on their impressive win over Osasuna before the international break when they resume their domestic campaign with a clash against Leganes on Sunday evening. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool manager Arne Slot has delivered a mixed injury update ahead of the Reds' imminent showdowns with Southampton in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League. 22 November 2024 talksport.com The January transfer window is an opportunity for teams to fix their summer spending on the cheap, or in these cases, for free. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Kai Havertz may have transformed himself at Arsenal - but he's not on the level of his Premier League rivals. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Reece James has suggested that he is remaining upbeat over his latest hamstring injury. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Mohamed Salah is one of the world's best players and he has become one of the top five Liverpool goalscorers ever. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Phil Foden is a superstar for Manchester City, but he still opts to wear an unconventional number at his boyhood club. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The latest instalment of the Basque derby will take place at San Mames on Sunday night, with Athletic Bilbao welcoming rivals Real Sociedad for what should be a highly-charged affair. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa will be looking to extend a Premier League feat when they face Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Having entered the international break with a run of three straight defeats, both Torino and Monza will try to stop the rot on Sunday, when they lock horns in Turin. 22 November 2024 talksport.com Third kits in the Premier League have caught the eye this season and you will certainly notice a unique difference from typical strips… 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal's Premier League home clash with Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon is their "biggest game of the season" so far, according to Gunners expert Charles Watts. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sevilla will attempt to bounce back from successive defeats in La Liga when they continue their campaign with a fixture against Rayo Vallecano at Estadio Ramon on Sunday afternoon. 22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will endeavour to maintain or increase their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table when they pit their wits against Southampton on Sunday at St Mary's.