Inter Miami host Charlotte FC at Chase Stadium on Sunday in a matchup of two undefeated teams in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer.
The Herons won their first league contest of the campaign in Houston last weekend, defeating the Dynamo 4-1, drawing even with the Crown for third in the East, with the latter claiming a 2-0 victory over Atlanta United.
Match preview
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As expected, Miami have begun the 2025 campaign positively, without a single defeat in MLS thus far, scoring six times in two matches.
On Sunday, they can claim at least a point in their opening three regular-season affairs for a second successive season, collecting seven points from their first three games a year ago.
Javier Mascherano has yet to win a domestic fixture at home in this competition, though the Herons have won their two CONCACAF Champions Cup encounters at Chase Stadium comfortably, defeating Sporting Kansas City 3-1 and Jamaican side Cavalier 2-0 on Thursday.
Miami have not dropped points in consecutive league games at Chase Stadium since matchday 17 and 18 of the 2024 campaign, claiming just one point in those two home fixtures.
The Herons have claimed maximum points in seven of their last eight regular season affairs at home and are unbeaten in nine consecutive MLS matches played in Fort Lauderdale.
They have never lost a competitive home game to Charlotte, and their previous victory against them in Fort Lauderdale occurred in the 2023 Leagues Cup quarter-finals (4-0).
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Charlotte FC are off to another strong start in the regular season, going unbeaten after two league games for a second successive campaign.
Dean Smith's men have points in seven consecutive regular-season affairs dating back to 2024, winning five of those matches.
Since entering the league in 2022, they have never gone unbeaten in their opening three matches of an MLS season, but they can do so for the first time on Sunday.
The Crown are unbeaten in their last three regular-season contests away from home, coming back from a pair of one-goal deficits to draw the Seattle Sounders on matchday one of this campaign.
Charlotte have not lost a match in this competition when netting multiple goals since early June 2023 when the Columbus Crew beat them 4-2 at Lower.com Field.
Only once in their MLS history have they claimed three points away from home against a side from Florida, defeating Orlando City 2-1 in March 2023.
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Team News
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This weekend, the Herons will be missing Ian Fray due to a red card suspension, but Tomas Aviles is eligible to return from his suspension, while captain Lionel Messi was rested for that encounter and Thursday too but should be back on Sunday.
In their victory over Houston, they did not have Marcelo Weigandt or Fafa Picault available as both players were recovering from hamstring injuries.
Luis Suarez was involved in all four of their goals last weekend, scoring once, while also setting up a brace from Telasco Segovia and a first-half strike by Tadeo Allende.
Charlotte were without Jahlane Forbes and Brandon Cambridge against Atlanta as both players were suffering thigh issue, while Nimfasha Berchimas was sidelined because of a sore foot.
Smith made two changes to his starting 11 for that match, bringing in Wilfried Zaha and Brandt Bronico to replace of Eryk Williamson and Kerwin Vargas.
Pep Biel netted the winner early into the second half last Saturday, with Zaha scoring his first career goal in MLS just a few minutes later.
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Ustari; Falcon, Aviles, Allen, Alba; Redondo, Busquets, Segovia, Ruiz; Messi, Suarez
Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:
Kahlina; Byrne, Malanda, Privett, Ream; Abada, Westwood, Williamson, Zaha; Biel, Agyemang
We say: Inter Miami 3-2 Charlotte FC
Sometimes individual quality can propel you to victory, and we expect that will be the case for Miami this weekend, who always seem to find a decisive edge even against strong sides like Charlotte.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
