Preview: Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union – prediction, team news, lineups

THE Philadelphia Union can climb above the Eastern Conference playoff line on Saturday with a win against Inter Miami and a little help when the two teams face off at Chase Stadium.

Miami are seven points clear of Los Angeles Galaxy for the best record in Major League Soccer (MLS) after a 4-2 win over Chicago Fire, while Philly are two points off the post-season line despite beating New York Red Bulls 2-0 in their previous meeting.

Match Preview

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What was expected to be a tight race between a few teams for the Supporters’ Shield crown turned into a frantic race, with Inter Miami pulling away from the pack.

Tata MartinoCincinnati’s men have won four straight games in this competition, which puts them eight points ahead of FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference standings.

With seven wins in their last seven league games, the Herons will set a new league record for wins in a single regular season, surpassing the mark of 24 set by the Galaxy and DC United in 1998.

Meanwhile, five more wins would set a new MLS regular-season points record, with the 2021 New England Revolution currently holding the all-time best mark with 73.

On Saturday, Miami can match its longest winning streak of the 2024 domestic campaign (five), while a victory would also give them 10 at home this year, tying their single-season club record set in 2022.

Throughout the 2024 domestic campaign, the Herons rarely gave up a lead, dropping points in only one league game all year when scoring first (a 1-1 draw against New York City FC).

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One of the few spectacles we’re not used to is a game in Philadelphia, with the Union battling for a playoff spot so late in the season.

This team has finished in the top four in the East in each of the previous five MLS campaigns, but with seven games remaining, it is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Jim CurtinThe team’s men have conceded 43 goals after 27 league games, the most for them in a single season since 2019 (50).

They have lost four of their last five away games in this competition, but with a win this weekend they will equal their total in this department from 2023 (five).

Philly has lost three of its last four meetings with Miami in all competitions, beating them just once at Chase Stadium during the 2022 season (2-1).

Inter Miami’s Major League Soccer form:

Inter Miami form (all competitions):

Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer Form:

Philadelphia Union Form (all competitions):

Team News

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There is a chance that Lionel Messi returns to Miami after his ankle injury this weekend, although we suspect he may not play a full game as he only recently returned to practice, while Lawson Sunderland has hamstring pain and Leo Afonso is struggling with groin tension.

Nicolas Freire remains a question mark with an ACL injury, Facundo Farias was released after tearing his ACL and Thomas Avilés is eligible to return from his yellow card suspension.

Tobias Salquist put the Herons ahead with an own goal in late August before Luis Suarez scored a double, bringing his tally to 16 this year, two fewer than Christian Benteke in the race for the MLS Golden Boot, with Robert Taylor capping the score with his fifth of the regular season.

On the Philadelphia side, Nathan Harriel was available on the bench but did not feature in their last game, having already suffered a knock, while Isaiah LeFlore remained on the bench due to a right knee injury.

Andre Blake, Daniel Gazdag, Jesus Good And Danley Jean Jacques should all be available after being called up for international duty last week.

Tai Baribo scored his seventh league goal of the season in their previous meeting, equalising with Mikael Montre for the team’s second, the latter scoring the winning goal after just four minutes.

Possible composition of the Inter Miami starting eleven:
Appellant; Fray, Busquets, Martinez; Weigandt, Redondo, Ruiz, Alba; Taylor, Suarez, Gomez

Possible Philadelphia Union starting lineup:
Blake; Mbaizo, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner; Flach; Sullivan, McGlynn; Gazdag; Baribo, Uhre

We say: Inter Miami 2-1 Philadelphia Union

No matter who’s in Miami’s lineup, they always find a way to get the job done, and we don’t expect that to change against a Philadelphia team that has been uncharacteristically inconsistent this season.

For data analysis on the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.

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