In pursuit of the club’s first-ever Supporters’ Shield, Inter Miami face a tough test at home when they take on the visiting Philadelphia Union in South Florida on Saturday.
Lionel Messi returns to the Herons squad for the first time since his nasty ankle injury suffered in the Copa America final more than two months ago. Head coach Tata Martino has hinted that he will be back here or on Wednesday at Atlanta United, and he is fit to play for tonight’s game.
With or without Messi, Inter Miami is one of the best teams in MLS, not only sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings, but also leading the race for the regular season title. They are seven points ahead of the LA Galaxy for that coveted title, and also have a game in hand over their West Coast opponents.
The Union, meanwhile, are in a precarious position. They are two points out of the final playoff spot, but have a game in hand over eighth-place D.C. United. Yet with seven games remaining, they don’t really have control of their destiny, as Atlanta United sits between them and the playoffs and have played just 27 games.
LIVE BLOG: Follow the match between Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union for the return of Lionel Messi
Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union Live Stream, TV Channel
The MLS match between Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union will be available exclusively for MLS Season Pass subscribers on Apple TV.
With the final stretch in sight, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV is now offering its lowest price of the seasonFans can purchase an MLS Season Pass subscription for just $9.99 to watch the remainder of the 2024 season, including the MLS Cup Playoffs. Existing Apple TV+ subscribers can purchase an MLS Season Pass subscription for free for the remainder of the 2024 season and the playoffs.
What time is the kick-off for the Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union match?
This MLS regular season match will kick off at Chase Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. local time in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Here’s how this time translates across time zones in North America:
| Date | Kick-off time | |
| Eastern Time | Sat. 14 Sept. | 7:30 p.m. |
| Central Time | Sat. 14 Sept. | 6:30 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Sat. 14 Sept. | 5:30 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | Sat. 14 Sept. | 4:30 p.m. |
Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union lineups and team news
Lionel Messi is fit to return for Inter Miami in this match, and he slots straight into Tata Martino’s starting XI.
Inter Miami is deprived of players like Nicolas Freire, Leo AfonsoAnd Facundo Farias to long-term injuries, while Matias Rojas is out for a few more weeks with an ankle injury. Thomas Avilés will return from his red card suspension.
The Herons’ midfield has surprising depth, with Benjamin Cremaschi And David Ruiz apparently rotating with people like Yannick Bright And Frederic Redondo. In the meantime, Sergio Busquets has played both in midfield and along the back line this season.
Inter Miami starting lineup (3-4-3): Callender (GK) — Aviles, Busquets, H. Martinez — Weigandt, Redondo, D. Gomez, Alba — Messi, Suarez, Gressel.
The September international break turned into a nightmare for the Philadelphia Union. A genius of the game Daniel Gazdag He had to withdraw from the Hungarian squad due to a muscle injury, but he is fit to play here. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of his star goalkeeper. Andre Blake who had a groin problem with Jamaica and will not play. They are the two most important players in the Union who have recently had fitness concerns.
Striker Tai Baribo was unable to take part in the warm-up with the Israeli national team against Italy due to a hamstring problem, but is fit to take part in this match. Jean Jacques He wasn’t so lucky, he injured his ankle while playing for Haiti and is likely to miss the game.
Now 37 years old, club captain Alexandre Bedoya needs consistent minutes management. He comes in and out of the starting lineup, and after starting each of the last two games, he could fall back to a substitute role here, replaced by Quinn Sullivan.
Philadelphia starting lineup (4-4-2 diamond): Rick (GK) — Harriel, Glesnes, Elliott, Wagner — Bueno — Sullivan, McGlynn — Gazdag — Baribo, Uhre.
Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union Prediction, Odds and Tips
- Score prediction: Inter Miami 3-1 Philadelphia
The Union have struggled for consistency this season, failing to distinguish their performances from those of their opponents. Their away win against the New York Red Bulls was their first victory in almost a month, with the Red Bulls failing to combine positive defensive performances with good offensive performances.
Inter Miami are a solid team with or without Lionel Messi, and they play even better at home. The Herons should snatch the points here and position themselves on the verge of confirming the Supporters’ Shield.
| BetMGM (USA) |
|
| Inter Miami Victory | -190 |
| Draw | +340 |
| Philadelphia Victory | +425 |
| Both teams mark |
Y: -175 N: +120 |
| More / Less 3.5 goals |
O: +115 U: -165 |
| Inter Miami -1.5 goals |
+130 |
| Philadelphia +1.5 goals |
-185 |
