Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Will Lionel Messi return against Cincinnati?

Inter Miami will attempt to keep their MLS playoff hopes alive when they welcome FC Cincinnati to the DRV PNK Stadium on Sunday. FC Cincinnati have enjoyed a memorable campaign, winning 19 of their 32 matches to win the Supporters' Shield for the first time in their history. FC Cincinnati is currently at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference standings and has been in impressive form this season.

The away side slumped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of New York Red Bulls last week and will need to bounce back in this match. Inter Miami, on the other hand, are in 14th place in the league table at the moment and have not been at their best in recent weeks. The Herons slumped to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Fire in their previous game and will need to work hard to bounce back this weekend.

Kick-Off:

Sunday, 8th October, 2023, 05:00 AM (IST), 07-10-23, 11:30 PM (GMT), 07-10-23, 07:30 PM (EST)

Form

Inter Miami Form (All Competitions): L-W-D-L-D-L

FC Cincinnati Form (All Competitions): L-D-D-W-W-L

Players to Watch

Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami)

Busquets is one of the best one-touch midfielders in the world. He plays as a deep midfielder who dictates the team’s build-up with clever, short and longer passes. When the team attacks, he is always in the centre of the pitch and behind the ball in order to add defensive security to the team. His presence in the midfield helps the team to be more fluid and attack aggressively at the same time. He is one the best signing for Miami this season.

Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati)

Vazquez’s size allows him to receive possession in between the lines, holding the ball up while looking to work delicate passing combinations in between the lines to create goalscoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. He can lay off passes as well as work through balls to runners while he can also operate as a chance creator in the final third, making runs into the channels to cross into the box. The positions he occupies in the box to make late runs are phenomenal as well while he is continuously focused, reacting quickly to saves and rebounds for tap-ins. He will be a big threat for the home team.

Match Facts

• Inter Miami have an impressive record against FC Cincinnati and has won four out of the eight matches played between the two teams, as opposed to FC Cincinnati's two victories.
• After winning their first four matches against FC Cincinnati in all competitions, Inter Miami are winless in their last four such games but have never lost a home game against FC Cincinnati.
• FC Cincinnati have lost only three matches away from home this season - only two teams since 2012 have completed an entire MLS season with such a record away from home.

Injury and Team News

The hosts will definitely be without the services of Ian Fray, Franco Negri, Corentin Jean, Gregore and Diego Gomez. Having missed Inter Miami's last four matches through injury, Messi is unlikely to recover in time for Saturday's encounter. Left-back Jordi Alba and forward Leonardo Campana are also questionable, with the pair struggling with hamstring issues.

As for the visitors, they cannot call upon Stiven Jimenez and Arquimides Ordonez, who are both ruled out with leg injuries. Defender Alvas Powell, who was sent off against New York Red Bulls, will miss Saturday's away trip through suspension.

Head-to-Head

Matches: 8

Inter Miami: 4

FC Cincinnati: 2

Draws: 2

Predicted Lineup for Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati

Inter Miami Predicted Lineup ( 4-3-3):

Calender; Yedlin, Kryvstov, Miller, Allen; Arroyo, Busquets, Cremaschi; Taylor, Farias, Martinez

FC Cincinnati Predicted Lineup ( 3-4-1-2):

Kann; Murphy, Miazga, Mosquera; Arias, Moreno, Acosta, Nwobodo, Barreal; Boupendza, Vazquez

Match Prediction for Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati

Inter Miami's busy schedule appears to have taken its toll on Martino's squad with the hosts expected to be without a number of key players and hence the table-topper will come out as the winners in the match.

Prediction: Inter Miami 0-2 FC Cincinnati

Telecast

India – MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+

UK– MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+

US – MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+, FS1, Fox Deportes

Nigeria – MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+