Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are back under the lights at Nu Stadium on Saturday night, with the reigning MLS Cup champions still chasing their first win in their new home. The Herons host a revamped Red Bull New York side at 7:30 p.m., looking to turn last week’s debut draw into a statement victory in front of their own fans. It is a big early-season check on Miami’s star-studded attack against a Red Bulls team that has been piling up goals in recent weeks.
Inter Miami’s Nu Stadium opener finished as a 2-2 draw with Austin FC, with Messi scoring and Luis Suárez coming off the bench to hit the equalizer, according to Local 10. Messi has five goals in six MLS appearances this season, and Inter Miami sits fourth in the Eastern Conference and remains unbeaten across seven matches in all competitions, according to the Miami Herald.
Red Bulls’ youthful attack
New York arrives with the wind at its back. Teenage forward Julian Hall has emerged as a breakout scorer, finding the net in the Red Bulls’ 4-2 win over FC Cincinnati and giving coach Michael Bradley a fresh attacking weapon, per the match recap from FC Cincinnati. Bradley has challenged his squad to “play very good football” and keep the pressure high, a mantra he repeated in a recent preview cited by FotMob.
Tactical questions for Miami
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano has zeroed in on finishing as a concern, saying the team had roughly 39 goal-scoring chances in recent games but converted only a handful, and emphasizing that the club badly wants to christen Nu Stadium with a win, according to the Miami Herald. Midfielder Tadeo Allende missed training this week with an unspecified issue, creating a late availability question that could force Mascherano into some tweaks on Saturday.
Luis Suárez underlined his worth as an impact substitute in the Nu Stadium debut by leveling the match after coming off the bench, while Messi kept carving out chances throughout the night, details noted by Yahoo Sports. That punch off the bench, combined with Messi’s knack for producing game-breaking moments, keeps Miami dangerous even when the final touch is not quite there.
How to watch
The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and will stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV, according to listings from AS USA. Tickets and official match information are available through the club and major vendors such as Ticketmaster.
Saturday’s clash is set up as much on fine margins as on marquee names. A home win would give Inter Miami a symbolic boost in its new house, while a Red Bulls upset would loudly underline the progress in Bradley’s rebuild. For background on the venue and the club’s tribute to Messi, see Hoodline’s earlier coverage of the “Leo Messi Stand” at Nu Stadium and related stadium notes.
