Inter Miami is back in action this weekend to take on the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium and win its third straight MLS game.
Although Miami beat Nashville SC 3-1 over the weekend, the Herons suffered another injury setback in their camp during a busy start to the season. While key players such as Serhiy Krvystov, Federico Redondo and Robert Taylor will have to sit out for a few more weeks, two more players, Jordi Alba and Diego Gomez, have been added to the Herons’ injury list.
Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino confirmed last Friday that Alba will be out for the next six weeks with a hamstring injury, while young Gomez is also expected to miss the next six weeks after suffering a severe ankle sprain in the last game against Miami Nashville. It was a difficult moment, not just for Gomez – who scored two goals and five assists – and for Miami, as the South Florida team’s attacking unit is pretty depleted, with only Messi, Luis Suarez, Leo Afonso and Shanyder Borgelin the only fit naturals Strikers are available.
Martino sometimes opts for a 5-3-2 or 3-5-2 approach when playing away, but given the Revs’ poor record in 2024, the former Mexico national team coach could try to play the game from the front start his preferred flat 4-3-3 setup. With players like Messi and Busquets having already played on an artificial playing surface, there should be no doubt that they will be there from the jump on the Gillette Stadium pitch.
Here’s how Miami could face the Revs this Saturday night.
GK: Drake Callender – The experienced goalkeeper looked good last time out and didn’t have much to do after the shock goal conceded in the opening minutes.
RB: Marcelo Weigandt – He had a much better performance against Nashville and will appreciate his chances up front against a Revs defense that has conceded goals at the back in 2024.
CB: Tomas Aviles – Aviles continues to develop and will look to give his best, as he did at the weekend with his spectacular goal-line shot to lead the Herons to victory.
CB: Nicolas Freire – After some poor defensive performances, the Argentine defender will look to bounce back in the coming games, first against a toothless New England attack that has only scored five goals so far this season.
LB: Franco Negri – With Jordi Alba out for the next few games, Negri will have the chance to show Martino what he can do at left-back.
CM: Julian Gressel – The former Columbus Crew player will be hoping to turn heads with his impeccable finishing from set pieces and corners.
CM: Sergio Busquets – The veteran midfield general starts again for Miami and continues to age like a fine wine.
CM: David Ruiz – Ruiz has more minutes under his belt alongside the veteran duo Gressel of Busquets.
RW: Lionel Messi – There are no questions here, Messi has been there from the start and hopes to be able to extend his 13 goal involvements in MLS play even further.
ST: Luis Suarez – Despite rumors that the Uruguayan international may not play on grass, Suarez remains in the eleven and looks to inflict damage on the Revs’ fragile back line.
LW: Leo Afonso – Due to the current injury crisis in Miami, the 22-year-old will be given a chance on the left wing in the attacking area.