Both aiming to continue strong starts to the Major League Soccer season, Minnesota United and Inter Miami will do battle at Allianz Field on Saturday.
The two sides both returned to winning ways last time out to sit second in the Western Conference standings and fourth in the Eastern Conference respectively.
Match preview
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Minnesota United return to action on Saturday aiming to make it back-to-back MLS victories and three straight wins in all competitions in what has been a pleasing start to their campaign.
After a sixth-placed finish and eventual Conference semi-finals playoff exit in the 2024 term, the Loons currently sit second in the Western Conference having earned 19 points from their first 11 games, winning five and only losing two of those.
The second of those defeats came at the hands of Vancouver Whitecaps in late April, ending an eight-match unbeaten run which produced 16 points, but they were quickly able to bounce back to winning ways in a trip to Austin FC last weekend.
An Ilie Sanchez own goal and finishes from Anthony Markanich and Joaquin Pereyra saw Eric Ramsay's side to a 3-0 triumph in that contest, before they most recently visited Louisville City in a US Open Cup in a round-of-32 tie on Wednesday and advanced with a 1-0 victory thanks to Alisa Randell's goal.
Having now rebuilt some momentum with those results and moved back up to second spot in the conference, albeit trailing leaders Vancouver Whitecaps by seven points, Minnesota United will bid to extend their winning run on Saturday and strengthen their standing as early frontrunners.
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They meet a visiting side who are also in search of back-to-back league wins, having rebounded from their own setback in the midst of a positive start last time out.
After topping the Eastern Conference and winning the MLS Supporters' Shield last time around, only to exit the playoffs in the first round, Inter Miami sit fourth after their first 10 games with 21 points on the board.
Javier Mascherano's side have only suffered one defeat in that time, falling to a 4-3 home loss to FC Dallas late last month after an unbeaten start, before they hosted New York Red Bulls in a bid to return to winning ways last weekend.
The Herons succeeded in doing so in dominant fashion, as Fafa Picault, Marcelo Weigandt, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi got on the scoresheet in a 4-1 triumph at the Chase Stadium.
Now sitting just one point behind second and third spots in the Eastern Conference and two behind leaders Columbus Crew with a game in hand on each, Inter Miami will aim to extend their strong start with a second straight three-point haul at the weekend with a chance to go top depending on other results.
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Team News
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Minnesota United will remain without Hassani Dotson, Owen Gene and Kipp Keller due to ongoing injuries, while Kelvin Yeboah, who has managed four MLS goals so far this season, could again miss out having been absent for their last two outings.
Eric Ramsay rotated his side for their midweek US Open Cup tie and could revert to the same starting XI from their 3-0 away win over Austin FC last time out in MLS, with Tani Oluwaseyi leading the line having netted a team-high tally of five goals so far this season.
He will be rejoined in a front three by Joaquin Pereyra and key man Robin Lod, while Carlos Harvey and Wil Trapp will both return to the midfield after sitting out for the Louisville City contest.
Inter Miami could also be unchanged from their 4-1 win over New York Red Bulls last time out, with Drake Callender, David Ruiz and Baltasar Rodriguez remaining confined to the treatment room.
Talismanic captain Lionel Messi will continue to lead the attack alongside Luis Suarez, having scored his ninth goal of the MLS season last time out to take his tally to 43 alongside 21 assists in just 53 appearances for the Herons, while Suarez has notched up 23 goals and 14 assists across the 2024 and 2025 league campaigns thus far.
Yannick Bright will continue to get the nod alongside Sergio Busquets in the engine room, while Jordi Alba and winger Fafa Picault form a dangerous left flank.
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St Clair; Boxall, Romero, Diaz; Hlongwane, Harvey, Trapp, Markanich; Pereyra, Oluwaseyi, Lod
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Ustari; Weigandt, Allen, Lujan, Alba; Allende, Busquets, Bright, Picault; Suarez, Messi
We say: Minnesota United 1-2 Inter Miami
Despite Minnesota United having home advantage and having recorded back-to-back wins heading into the weekend, we see the visitors having too much quality throughout their ranks on Saturday and back Inter Miami to leave with all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
