Preview: Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami – prediction, team news, lineups

Atlanta United can move above the Eastern Conference playoff line in Major League Soccer (MLS) when they host Inter Miami Wednesday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

A 2-0 defeat to Nashville SC last weekend leaves the Five Stripes two points behind DC United with a game in hand, while the Herons are seven points clear of the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Supporters’ Shield race, having come from behind to beat the Philadelphia Union 3-1 on Saturday.

Match Preview

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It was a less than ideal start to the weekend for Atlanta, who conceded a goal after just five minutes of play and failed to generate many quality chances despite having five attempts on target.

Rob Valentino‘s men have failed to find the back of the net in three of their last four matches in all competitions, winning just one of those encounters (1-0 at Charlotte FC).

Atlanta United can win a maximum of eight regular-season home games this year, which would still be two fewer than in 2023.

On the other hand, this team has suffered six home defeats in the league this year, three more than in the 2023 domestic campaign.

In their last three games played at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in all competitions, the Five Stripes have failed to win, scoring in only one of those cases (a 3-3 draw against DC United in the Leagues Cup).

In this competition, they have a 100% record against Florida-based teams, winning twice, including a 3-1 victory against Miami in Fort Lauderdale in late May.

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The returning team, better known as Inter Miami, responded well to an early goal on Saturday as they continued to extend their lead at the top of the table.

That lead is currently 10 points over FC Cincinnati for first place in the Eastern Conference, while the Herons can reach 20 league triumphs on Wednesday, doubling their total from a year ago (10).

In 2024, Tata MartinoThe men had found themselves behind 15 times in MLS this year, conceding the first goal.

Miami has been lethal in the attacking third all year, scoring a league-high 65 goals, made even more impressive by the fact that they have only taken one penalty in MLS this season.

The Herons have won five of their last six domestic games as visitors, winning every game in this competition since being thrashed 6-1 by FC Cincinnati in early July.

This team has only one win against the Five Stripes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, winning 2-1 in 2022.

Atlanta United Major League Soccer selection form:

Atlanta United form (all competitions):

Inter Miami’s Major League Soccer form:

Inter Miami form (all competitions):

Team News

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Reserve goalkeeper Quentin Westberg was sidelined for Atlanta this weekend with a head injury, while Ajani’s Fortune played 71 minutes after missing time earlier in the campaign with a knock.

Tristan Muyumba also returned to the lineup after a knock on Saturday, coming on as a second-half substitute in place of Bartosz Slisz.

The last time they played a national game against Miami in May, Saba Lobjanidze cut a hug, and Jamal Thiare also won a convincing triumph.

Inter Miami did not have Matias Rojas available to them on Saturday due to ankle pain, CJ dos Santos was sidelined due to a hand problem, Leo Afonso I had a groin strain, Lawson Sunderland is struggling with a hamstring problem, while Nicolas Freire And Facundo Farias are recovering from a torn ACL.

Sergio Busquets And Thomas Avilés will be suspended for this upcoming clash after being booked in their victory on Saturday.

In his first match back since injuring his ankle in the Copa America final, Lionel Messi looked like his old self, with a notch on one brace, with Luis Suarez scoring the other goal, giving him 17 in the 2024 MLS campaign, two fewer than Christian Benteke in the race for the Golden Boot.

Possible Atlanta United starting lineup:
Guzan; Lennon, Rode Gregersen, Abram, Amador; Slisz, McCarty; Lobjanidze, Miranchuk, Mosquera; Rios

Possible composition of the Inter Miami starting eleven:
Callender; Weigandt, Kryvtsov, Fray, Alba; Gressel, Ruiz, Redondo; Messi, Suarez, Taylor

We say: Atlanta United 1-2 Inter Miami

Inter Miami looked unbeatable without Messi, and with him they should be just as deadly and difficult to track for 90 minutes.

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