This weekend's Major League Soccer schedule kicks off with a clash of the Eastern Conference heavyweights at Chase Stadium, where Inter Miami will play host to Philadelphia Union.
Both sides have made excellent starts to the league season, with the visitors currently leading the conference standings with 12 points, while the hosts are two points behind them in third.
Match preview
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After setting the MLS single-season points record last year, Inter Miami are well on their way to challenging for top honours again this season, currently one of only two teams still unbeaten in the East after their first four games.
The Herons, now under the guidance of Javier Mascherano, have racked up three wins on the bounce after an opening week draw against New York City, with their most recent matchup ending in a 2-1 victory over Atlanta United on the road ahead of the international break.
After conceding early to an Emmanuel Latte Lath goal last time out, Miami's eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and skipper Lionel Messi got them back on level terms against the Five Stripes, before Fafa Picault netted the winner two minutes before the final whistle.
Over the first month of the new campaign, Mascherano has yet to taste defeat and also steered his side to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-finals with a 4-0 aggregate win against Jamaican Premier League outfit Cavalier.
The hosts have won each of their last three home games across all competitions this season, and will be confident in their chances of extending that record here, having beaten their upcoming opponents home and away last season, scoring five goals, while conceding two in those matches.
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Meanwhile, after a very poor 2024 campaign, in which they failed to qualify for the playoffs, Philadelphia Union have made a much better start to the new season, currently perched atop the conference standings with 12 points in five games.
Like their upcoming opponents, the Union also have a new boss in the dugout in South African tactician Bradley Carnell, who has led the side to four wins in five games, with the exception being a 3-1 loss to Nashville in a match that they ended with 10 men.
Philly's last match before the international break ended in a 1-0 victory over St Louis City, with Newell's loanee Ian Glavinovich getting on the scoresheet just eight minutes into his first start for the club.
Notably, the U's look much better in attack this season, having already netted 12 times - the second-most in the Eastern Conference behind Orlando City - with half of those goals coming in their two away matches.
Team News
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Leading up to this match, the major talking point, unsurprising, surrounds the availability of Messi, after the reigning MLS MVP pulled out of national duty with Argentina with an adductor injury.
The Herons' skipper remained in Miami to undergo treatment over the last couple of weeks, but reports suggest that Mascherano may not risk him from the start this weekend, with the Champions Cup quarter-final first leg against LAFC taking place four days later.
Aside from Messi, the hosts are also set to be without the services of David Ruiz, Robert Taylor and Boca Juniors loanee Marcelo Weigandt, all of whom are recovering from hamstring injuries.
Philadelphia Union will be able to welcome former Stellenbosch FC's Olwethu Makhanya back to the starting lineup this week, with the defender having now served his suspension for the red card he was shown against Nashville.
Israeli international Tai Baribo has made an incredible start to the season, scoring six goals in four games and is currently leading the early Golden Boot race. He should return to the attack this week after missing the last match due to international duty.
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Ustari; Fray, Lujan, Allen, Alba; Bright, Busquets, Segovia, Cremaschi, Suarez, Allende
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Westfield, Glesnes, Makhanya, Wagner; Gazdag, Jacques, Lukic, Sullivan; Baribo, Uhre
We say: Inter Miami 3-2 Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union have made a bright start to the season, but this will be their toughest assignment to date, as they now travel to Chase Stadium, where they were beaten 3-1 last season.
While Inter Miami may start the match without their talisman and skipper Lionel Messi, they still have plenty of firepower in attack, and we feel they will come out of this match with all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Devesh Jaganath
