After enjoying success in the cup competitions, Inter Miami will return to MLS action with an away fixture against New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
While Inter Miami are sitting bottom of the Eastern Conference, the Red Bulls currently occupy 11th place in the standings.
Match preview
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After being eliminated in the last 16 of the Leagues Cup, New York Red Bulls were back playing in the MLS last weekend.
Their home meeting with DC United looked to be heading towards a goalless draw until John Tolkin snatched all three points for the Red Bulls with an 88th-minute winner.
With 10 games left to play in the regular season, Troy Lesesne's side are sitting three points adrift of the playoffs.
While the Red Bulls will have their work cut out to stop Messi and co, they have proven to be a tough team to break down, having shipped just 26 goals in 24 MLS games - only one team in the Eastern Conference has conceded fewer.
They have also enjoyed a positive run of results on home turf, losing just one of their last eight competitive home games.
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A lot has happened since Inter Miami suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to St. Louis City in their most recent MLS outing on July 16.
Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have all arrived, Tata Martino is now the head coach and the club have clinched their first-ever piece of silverware.
After 10 goals from the irrepressible Messi helped Inter Miami win the Leagues Cup, the Herons quickly turned their attention to Wednesday's US Open Cup semi-final against FC Cincinnati.
Inter Miami fought from two goals down to send the away tie to extra time, with Messi providing two assists for Leonardo Campana to net a second-half brace, which included a dramatic 97th-minute equaliser.
While Cincinnati's Yuya Kubo cancelled out Josef Martinez's extra-time strike, Inter Miami still emerged victorious, winning a penalty shootout for the third time in the last five games.
Having spent the last five weeks focused on the cup competitions, Inter Miami will turn their attention to the MLS, where they have significant work to do if they are to mount a sensational playoff push, with 14 points separating them from the top nine in the Eastern Conference.
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Team News
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New York Red Bulls will go into Saturday's contest without the services of Dylan Nealis, Lewis Morgan, Steven Sserwadda and Serge Ngoma.
Jamaica international Corey Burke is also unlikely to feature for the hosts after missing the last five matches with a hip problem.
After being forced off in the first half of the 1-0 win over DC United, Dante Vanzeir is a doubt for Saturday's encounter.
As for the visitors, Martino is still unable to call upon Gregore, Franco Negri, Corentin Jean and Nicolas Stefanelli.
Robert Taylor, Benjamin Cremaschi and Martinez dropped out of the lineup on Wednesday, but the trio are expected to return to the starting XI for Saturday's contest.
Messi, Busquets and Alba will all appear in the MLS for the first time after spending the early weeks of their Inter Miami career competing in cup competitions.
New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Carlos; Harper, Reyes, Nealis, Tolkin; Fernandez, Edelman, Yearwood, Luquinhas; Barlow, Manoel
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Callender; Yedlin, Kryvstov, Miller, Alba; Cremaschi, Busquets, Mota; Messi, Taylor, Martinez
We say: New York Red Bulls 1-2 Inter Miami
There will be some tired legs among the Inter Miami squad after playing 120 minutes in midweek, but with the visitors able to call upon Messi, Busquets and Alba, we think that world-class quality will help them claim a narrow victory.
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