Lionel Messi and Inter Miami welcome a familiar foe to South Florida as the Eastern Conference leaders host Nashville SC on Saturday.
These two sides have met four times since Messi joined the Herons, first in last year’s Leagues Cup final plus twice earlier this year in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Inter Miami have triumphed in all three knockout-stage meetings, with Messi scoring goals in all three, while they played to a scoreless draw in their latest league meeting last August.
Nashville have yet to get the best of Inter Miami with Messi leading the way, and an upset victory here over a constant thorn would be a welcome jolt to the season as they sit 14th in the standings with just one win through the first seven games of the season.
The Sporting News is following the Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Inter Miami vs Nashville SC live score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| Inter Miami | – | – |
| Nashville SC | – | – |
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Location: Chase Stadium (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Starting lineups (predicted):
Inter Miami (4-3-3, right to left): Callender (GK) — Weigandt, Aviles, Freire, Allen — Gressel, Busquets, D. Ruiz — Messi, Suarez, D. Gomez.
Nashville SC (3-5-2, right to left): Panicco (GK) — Bauer, MacNaughton, Lovitz — Muyl, Yearwood, Godoy, Anunga, Shaffelburg — Mukhtar, Surridge.
Inter Miami vs Nashville SC live updates, highlights, commentary
1 hour 15 mins to kickoff: There’s sporting pressure on Inter Miami to keep achieving results. It’s very early in the MLS season, but while Inter Miami sit top of the Eastern Conference table, they are not in control of the Supporters’ Shield race, as they are level with the New York Red Bulls on points but have played an extra game, while the Philadelphia Union sit two back in third having played two fewer matches.
In fact, with Inter Miami having played at least one more game than any other Eastern Conference club, they are conceivably within one game of nine clubs behind them in the standings. If they drop a few consecutive results, the Herons could find themselves tumbling down the table and in a scrap just to make the playoffs as the summer rolls around.
1 hour 30 mins to kickoff: Nashville SC head coach Gary Smith must be sick of seeing Lionel Messi by now. The Argentine legend scored in both CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 legs earlier this season, and bagged a goal against them in the Leagues Cup final last season.
He couldn’t hide his frustration when asked about Messi in his pre-match press availability, saying that he’s “a little disappointed” that Messi has recovered fitness and form in time for this matchup. You have to respect him for the honesty there!
🚨🗣️Gary Smith (Nashville coach):
“I’m a little disappointed because Messi has recovered and brought himself back to his best form with us coming to Miami to play them again. When Messi is with the group the look of Inter Miami changes.” pic.twitter.com/9gWHYlfuep
— PSG Chief (@psg_chief) April 20, 2024
1 hour 45 mins to kickoff: The latest Inter Miami star to succumb to a hamstring issue is Jordi Alba, who was ruled out of this match in the run-up by head coach Tata Martino. He is expected to be absent for at least two matches, as the injury crisis for Inter Miami continues unabated.
Tata Martino confirma que Jordi Alba se pierde este y el próximo partido.
Después de eso, será evaluado partido a partido.
También se refirió a las lesiones musculares.#InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/cRAzSRohuB
— José Armando (@Jarm21) April 19, 2024
2 hours to kickoff: One constant theme that Inter Miami players have harped on since Lionel Messi joined the club is how much better he makes them, with his influence both on and off the field. Last year, Robert Taylor exploded onto the scene with Messi alongside, and he continually acknowledged how much more space he had to operate once Messi began operating on the opposite wing.
New signing Julian Gressel is the latest to repeat this tune, also nodding to Messi’s off-field influence.
“Leo makes everybody look better… He’s a great teammate and a great player.” @InterMiamiCF’s @JulianGressel on what it’s like playing alongside Lionel Messi 🌟 pic.twitter.com/6D5i6ykCwN
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 17, 2024
Inter Miami vs Nashville SC stats
- Inter Miami have lost just once when Lionel Messi starts an MLS match, falling to Charlotte FC 1-0 on the final day of the 2023 regular season. They have five wins, two draws, and one defeat overall when Messi starts in MLS play.
- At one goal every 81 minutes, Lionel Messi is second in MLS this season in goals/min, behind only Atlanta United striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, who has scored his five league goals at a 64-minute clip. Luis Suarez is third at a goal every 89 minutes.
- In 19 MLS matches since the end of the 2023 Leagues Cup, Nashville SC have been out-shot 179-98 and out-scored 19-7 in the second half.
Inter Miami vs Nashville SC lineups, team news
Tata Martino’s squad is slowly but surely recovering from its early-season fitness concerns, but a host of Inter Miami players remain sidelined with injuries.
Three players have suffered hamstring strains, as defender Serhiy Kryvtsov, winger Robert Taylor, and striker Leo Campana are all out for another few weeks, while new signing Federico Redondo is also missing as he recovers from an MCL tear. Jordi Alba was ruled out by Martino in the run-up to the match thanks to a hamstring injury of his own, and will miss at least two games.
Ian Fray is nearing a return from an ACL tear but will be brought along very slowly as it’s the youngster’s third of his career, while Facundo Farias is done for the year with a cruciate ligament injury of his own in preseason.
Inter Miami projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Callender (GK) — Weigandt, Aviles, Freire, Allen — Gressel, Busquets, D. Ruiz — Messi, Suarez, D. Gomez.
Inter Miami subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
The biggest injury problem for Nashville SC head coach Gary Smith is the absence of steady defender Walker Zimmerman who remains sidelined following non-invasive knee surgery in mid-March, but he should be on his way back soon.
Wide forward Tyler Boyd is also missing and not expected back for another few weeks as he recovers from a hip injury, while they’re also without U.S. international full-back Shaq Moore who is out with a hip injury as well.
Nashville SC projected starting lineup (3-5-2): Panicco (GK) — Bauer, MacNaughton, Lovitz — Muyl, Yearwood, Godoy, Anunga, Shaffelburg — Mukhtar, Surridge.
Nashville SC subs (9): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
How to watch Inter Miami vs Nashville SC
This MLS match, along with every other game through the entirety of the 2024 regular season and postseason, will be available to stream on MLS Season Pass from Apple TV.
