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Preview: NYCFC host Inter Miami in MLS

Preview: NYCFC host Inter Miami in MLS

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Inter Miami can confirm their place in the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs with a win or a draw against New York City FC on Wednesday night, but this team have much bigger ambitions and expectations than mere qualification.

By James Nalton

Having played at Yankee Stadium last season, this will be Lionel Messi’s first visit to New York City’s other baseball home at Citi Field, Queens, home of the New York Mets. 

There should be plenty of buzz in the World’s Borough ahead of Messi’s appearance, as Inter Miami continue their quest to retain their Supporters’ Shield title.

Lionel Messi is back in MVP form

For much of this season, other players in Major League Soccer have had better cases than Messi to be named the league’s MVP at the end of the year.

Messi won the award in 2024 despite missing numerous games throughout the campaign, so good were his performances when he did play.

This season has been similarly impressive at times, but Miami as a team have often lacked momentum. 

There was the run of fixtures where Messi was scoring twice in every game, and flashes of genius here and there, but there was always a strong case for someone like Anders Dreyer of San Diego, or Evander of Cincinnati, to claim the award.

In the past two games, Messi’s all-round play has been back at a level above everyone in MLS and, indeed, above most people playing the game regardless of the league in which they play.

He has scored three goals and assisted two more in those games, and more often than not, these goal contributions involve moments of brilliance.

Starting as a striker in place of the suspended Luis Suárez seems to have suited him.

Can Inter Miami still win the Supporters’ Shield?

Javier Mascherano’s side are whittling away at their games in hand, and after this midweek fixture, they will be only two behind the teams at the top of the table. 

Going into this game, they still have three games in hand on Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union, who also happen to be leading the overall Supporters’ Shield Standings.

Miami are eight points behind the Union, so three points from each of those three games would give them a one-point edge.

As Miami have shown in recent months, though, they are not a team that can put a run of wins together, and they have not won three games in a row since July.

However, they have the chance to do so in this game against NYC, and, from here on out, they only have to focus on MLS, which has not been the case for much of the season so far.

With Messi back in top form, they could make a late push to retain their Shield.

Opposition watch: New York City FC

NYCFC are on a run of three consecutive wins, which is part of a wider impressive spell of form which has seen them win seven of their last nine games in MLS.

Post Leagues Cup, they have won five of six and have already secured their place in the playoffs.

Though the focus will be on Miami’s Supporters’ Shield push, New York themselves are still in that race, too.

Pascal Jansen’s side are also the form team in the league, just ahead of Charlotte FC, whom they defeated 2-0 at the weekend thanks to two penalties from Costa Rican striker Alonso Martínez, who now has eight goals in his last seven league games.

Martínez is five off Messi at the top of the scoring charts, with 17 goals, and has the second-highest xG and xG per 90 in the league.

Prediction

This should be an entertaining game between two teams in good form. A score draw could be on the cards.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every MLS game live this season with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Preview: NYCFC host Inter Miami in MLS

Inter Miami can confirm their place in the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs with a win or a draw against New York City FC on Wednesday night, but this team have much bigger ambitions and expectations than mere qualification.

By James Nalton

Having played at Yankee Stadium last season, this will be Lionel Messi’s first visit to New York City’s other baseball home at Citi Field, Queens, home of the New York Mets. 

There should be plenty of buzz in the World’s Borough ahead of Messi’s appearance, as Inter Miami continue their quest to retain their Supporters’ Shield title.

Lionel Messi is back in MVP form

For much of this season, other players in Major League Soccer have had better cases than Messi to be named the league’s MVP at the end of the year.

Messi won the award in 2024 despite missing numerous games throughout the campaign, so good were his performances when he did play.

This season has been similarly impressive at times, but Miami as a team have often lacked momentum. 

There was the run of fixtures where Messi was scoring twice in every game, and flashes of genius here and there, but there was always a strong case for someone like Anders Dreyer of San Diego, or Evander of Cincinnati, to claim the award.

In the past two games, Messi’s all-round play has been back at a level above everyone in MLS and, indeed, above most people playing the game regardless of the league in which they play.

He has scored three goals and assisted two more in those games, and more often than not, these goal contributions involve moments of brilliance.

Starting as a striker in place of the suspended Luis Suárez seems to have suited him.

Can Inter Miami still win the Supporters’ Shield?

Javier Mascherano’s side are whittling away at their games in hand, and after this midweek fixture, they will be only two behind the teams at the top of the table. 

Going into this game, they still have three games in hand on Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union, who also happen to be leading the overall Supporters’ Shield Standings.

Miami are eight points behind the Union, so three points from each of those three games would give them a one-point edge.

As Miami have shown in recent months, though, they are not a team that can put a run of wins together, and they have not won three games in a row since July.

However, they have the chance to do so in this game against NYC, and, from here on out, they only have to focus on MLS, which has not been the case for much of the season so far.

With Messi back in top form, they could make a late push to retain their Shield.

Opposition watch: New York City FC

NYCFC are on a run of three consecutive wins, which is part of a wider impressive spell of form which has seen them win seven of their last nine games in MLS.

Post Leagues Cup, they have won five of six and have already secured their place in the playoffs.

Though the focus will be on Miami’s Supporters’ Shield push, New York themselves are still in that race, too.

Pascal Jansen’s side are also the form team in the league, just ahead of Charlotte FC, whom they defeated 2-0 at the weekend thanks to two penalties from Costa Rican striker Alonso Martínez, who now has eight goals in his last seven league games.

Martínez is five off Messi at the top of the scoring charts, with 17 goals, and has the second-highest xG and xG per 90 in the league.

Prediction

This should be an entertaining game between two teams in good form. A score draw could be on the cards.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every MLS game live this season with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.