Inter Miami will be looking to pick up successive MLS wins for the first time since September when they play host to Nashville SC at the Chase Stadium on Saturday.
Having failed to win the last five meetings between the sides since May 2023, the Boys in Gold will head into the game looking to get one over the hosts and get their season up and running.
Match preview
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Inter Miami returned to winning ways in style as they fought back from behind to secure a 3-2 victory over Sporting Kansas City at the Arrowhead Stadium last Sunday.
Sporting Kansas forward Erik Thommy netted a brace in a brilliant individual performance, but goals from Diego Gomez, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez saw the Herons come away with a much-needed victory.
Prior to that, Inter Miami failed to win their previous five matches across all competitions, a run which saw them crash out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup courtesy of a 5-2 aggregate loss to Mexican outfit Monterrey.
After two games on the road, Gerardo Martino's side now return to the Chase Center, where they are unbeaten in four of their first five MLS matches — claiming two wins and two draws — with a 3-2 defeat against CF Montreal on March 10 being the exception.
Inter Miami have picked up 15 points from their nine MLS matches so far and currently sit at the top of the Eastern Conference standings, level on points with second-placed New York Red Bulls.
However, they will be backing themselves to pick up their first win in four home games this weekend as they take on an opposing side who have failed to win any of their last five encounters, losing three and claiming two draws since a 2-1 victory in May 2023.
Nashville, on the other hand, were left spitting feathers last time out as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Philadelphia Union when the sides met at Geodis Park.
Former Nottingham Forest striker Sam Surridge netted in the 42nd minute to put the hosts in front but Julian Carranza restored parity in the 62nd minute before Daniel Gazdag turned the tie on its head with a 90th-minute strike.
Gary Smith's men have now failed to win their last three league outings, claiming one point from a possible nine, and have won just one of their last eight matches across all competitions since the start of March.
A slow start to the season has seen Nashville pick up just seven points from their opening seven matches to sit 14th in the Eastern Conference table, three points and one place above rock-bottom New England Revolution.
Team News
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Inter Miami will be without several players down the spine of the team as the likes of Leonardo Campana (hamstring), Ian Fray (ACL) and Robbie Robinson (knee) continue their spells on the sidelines.
Argentine midfielder Facundo Farias has been out of action since sustaining an ACL injury back in January, while Sergii Kryvtsov is currently recuperating from a hamstring problem.
Federico Redondo has been ruled out through a knee injury, while Robert Taylor, who has two goals in seven MLS matches this season is also a doubt through a hamstring injury.
Like the hosts, Nashville will also have to cope without several players as Tyler Boyd and Walker Zimmerman are currently recuperating from hip and knee injuries respectively.
Costa Rican midfielder Randall Leal has been out of action since October through a severe injury while Shaq Moore continues his spell on the club's injury table through a hip injury.
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Callender, Aviles, Freire, Gressel; Weigandt, Ruiz, Busquets, Alba; Messi, Suarez, Gomez
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Panicco; Bauer, MacNaughton, Lovitz; Muyl, Godoy, Yearwood, Shaffelburg, Anunga; Surridge, Mukhtar
We say: Inter Miami 3-1 Nashville SC
Inter Miami showed resilience and class last weekend when they edged out Sporting Kansas and will head into the weekend with renewed confidence. We predict that Martino's men will pick up where they left off last time out and see off the floundering visitors.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
