Inter Miami return to Major League Soccer action against Orlando City following the break for the Leagues Cup group stage.
By James Nalton
There are stars to watch out for on both sides in this Florida derby, even if the MLS main attraction might be missing.
Messi injury status
Inter Miami managed to get the result they needed to remain in the Leagues Cup, defeating Pumas UNAM 3-1 to progress to the knockout rounds which begin later in the month.
They did so without the injured Lionel Messi, with Rodrigo De Paul scoring his first goal for the club and Luis Suárez and Tadeo Allende also getting on the scoresheet.
Messi remains out for the game against Orlando, but that win against Pumas gives the team encouragement that they can win without their main star.
The addition of De Paul to the ranks helps. He brings the teamwork and experience that Messi himself values so much, and can now rub off on the rest of the team.
Telasco and Tadeo’s time to step up (again)
All season, Telasco Segovia and Tadeo Allende have felt like key players in this Inter Miami team.
It’s OK having several star names, but the key to truly being successful is complementing that individual greatness with a functioning team and players being the big names.
Other parts of the recruitment model for MLS teams should be finding younger players to develop and prime-age players to fit in the middle.
The profile of 22-year-old Segovia makes him the replacement for Diego Gómez, who joined Brighton in January, while at the age of 26, Allende should be at his peak and playing his best football.
Both have contributed this season and are the second-highest scorers at the club, behind Messi on seven goals apiece in MLS.
It is they, alongside the additional guidance from De Paul, who will need to step up in Messi’s absence and match Orlando’s attacking stars.
Opposition watch: Orlando City
Orlando also progressed to the knockout rounds of the Leagues Cup, joining Inter Miami in the quarterfinals alongside Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy from the MLS side of the draw.
Óscar Pareja’s side have been one of the best teams in MLS this season when it comes to creating chances in attack, and are the second-highest scorers in the Eastern Conference with 46 (behind Miami’s 49)
They are second in the league for expected goals with 44.2 and also second for the number of big chances created, with 78, behind the San Jose Earthquakes on both counts.
Orlando have also missed the most big chances in the league with 54, which suggests they have even more goals in them than the 46 they have scored.
Martín Ojeda has been the standout player for Orlando this season and is one to look out for. He has been ably supported by Marco Pašalić and experienced Colombian forward Luis Muriel.
Prediction
Orlando City’s attack will be too much for Inter Miami’s defence, but it has the potential to be yet another high-scoring game.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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