Isha Sharma
Lionel Messi will travel with Inter Miami for their crucial road match against Atlanta United on Wednesday night. This match is the first of a two-game road trip, with the second game against New York City FC on Saturday. Miami coach Tata Martino confirmed Messi’s participation in the road trip, aiming to strengthen the team’s position at the top of the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield race.
Inter Miami’s Current Standing and Challenges
Inter Miami leads the Supporters’ Shield race, sitting seven points ahead of the Los Angeles Galaxy with a match in hand.
Despite their strong position, Miami has faced numerous injury challenges throughout the season, making it difficult to field a full-strength squad.
As Messi highlighted, the team has had to adapt and push forward despite these setbacks, and they now aim to finish the season strong.
The potential lineup changes for Wednesday’s match against Atlanta United indicate that the team may adopt a cautious approach, prioritising player health as they move closer to securing the Shield.
Messi recently returned to action after a two-month absence, helping Miami secure a 3-1 victory over Philadelphia.
However, Miami will be missing some key players, including Sergio Busquets, who will serve a yellow-card accumulation suspension, and David Martinez, who exited the last match with a right adductor strain.
Given Atlanta’s artificial surface, Martino may limit the playing time of veterans like Messi and Luis Suarez to avoid further injuries.
Atlanta United’s Struggle for Playoff Qualification
Atlanta United currently holds the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference, battling to secure a playoff position.
They recently suffered a 2-0 defeat against Nashville SC, failing to achieve back-to-back wins for the first time since mid-March.
Interim coach Rob Valentino expressed his disappointment with the team’s recent performance and vowed to improve in the upcoming match against Miami.
Atlanta has struggled offensively, scoring just one goal in its last three MLS matches, and the pressure is on its forwards to deliver as they face the league leaders.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings