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Inter Miami vs Atlanta United Preview
Inter Miami welcome Atlanta United to Chase Stadium on May 29 at 7:30 pm EST looking to keep their lead atop the Eastern Conference. The Herons are ten games unbeaten in the MLS following their 2-1 victory over Vancouver on Saturday.
Atlanta enters this fixture without a league win since March. Despite their poor form, they sit five points behind the final play-in places. As we approach the regular season’s midway point, a win here could reinvigorate the Five Stripes.
Inter Miami CF vs Atlanta United Head-To-head and Key Stats
Inter Miami has been the team to beat in the MLS. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have formed another formidable partnership, akin to their days at Camp Nou. The South American duo has 21 goals and a further 17 assists. Messi’s 22-goal involvements are more than any player in the MLS. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has led the way as Miami stormed to the top of the league in 2024. They are the favourites for lifting the MLS Trophy according to our soccer odds. However, there was controversy last weekend when three of their stars missed the fixture against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Whitecaps released a statement the day before the game announcing Sergio Busquets, Messi, and Suarez’s omission from the Miami squad. There was uproar among Caps fans, many travelled just to see the Champions League-winning trio. Whereas, the Miami fans were more worried about their unbeaten record. Tata Martino’s side had played nine matches without losing leading up to the clash at BC Place.
Miami showed their attacking intent early on. Leonardo Campana stepped into the frontline for his first league start since the end of April. The Ecuadorian nearly put the visitors ahead within four minutes. His header inside the six-yard box forced a strong save from Yohei Takaoka. Miami continued to pressure the Caps’ goal for the game’s opening moments with Matias Rojas and Robert Taylor threatening from range.
The Herons were a frequent threat down the left flank. After 38 minutes Alba’s through ball found Taylor. The Finnish international cut in on his right foot and rifled home into the top right corner for his third league goal of the season. Vancouver rarely threatened the away goal and entered the second half a goal down. They nearly equalized early on when Fafà Picault’s header went wide in the 49th minute.
However, a fast break just five minutes later saw Miami extend their lead. Mathias Laborder was wrongfooted by Taylor’s smart stepover on the left side of the box. The goalscorer turned architect found Campana, who slotted home from 10 yards. Vancouver dominated possession and finally found an opening after 72 minutes. A VAR review determined that Thomas Aviles had committed a foul off the ball inside the box, conceding a penalty. Captain Ryan Gauld stepped up to narrow the deficit to one. Vancouver fought for an equalizer, with Picault’s header hitting the inside of the post in the 81st minute. Yet, Miami remained strong at the back to see out a hard-fought victory. The win means Sartini’s men extended their undefeated streak to 10.
Atlanta was less fortunate in their previous game. The Five Stripes continued their unwanted winless record to nine as they fell to defeat at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A lowkey first half saw both sides’ sturdy defence keep shots mainly from range. Daniel Rios had the best chance to open the scoring after 34 minutes, dragging his shot wide from 8 yards.
Drama struck in the 55th minute. Atlanta ‘keeper Brad Guzan rushed out of his box to head away a looping ball over the defence, catching Mateusz Bogusz with a trailing leg. A lengthy VAR review adjudged that he had denied a clear scoring opportunity. The veteran shot-stopper saw his original caution upgraded to a red card, and Atlanta was down to ten men. Bogusz stepped up for the resulting free-kick and saw his effort hit the back of the net following a deflection off the wall. That marked his second free-kick goal in as many games.
Atlanta was seemingly undeterred by Guzan’s sending off, bravely sending men forward in the hunt for an equalizer. A string of attacks saw near misses from Thiago Almada and Jamal Thiare. Saba Lobjanidze saw his shot from 10 yards batted away by Hugo Lloris. They handed Atlanta a lifeline when Eduard Atuesta received his second yellow card to bring the Black and Gold down to ten men. The hosts failed to take advantage, and LAFC saw the game out for a narrow victory.
Final from Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/q7rM7M6f12
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) May 26, 2024
These sides last met in September 2023. A bumper crowd of 71,000 watched Atlanta humble a Messi-less Inter Miami at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was a 5-2 dismantling. Campana struck early to put the visitors ahead before Atlanta scored three in the final ten minutes of the first half to enter halftime 3-1 ahead. Campana stepped up from 12 yards early in the second half to cut the deficit to one. Two late strikes from Giorgos Giakoumakis and Tyler Wolff saw the Five Stripes run out as deserved winners.
Atlanta vs Inter Miami Prediction
Correct score prediction: Inter Miami 3-0 Atlanta
Inter Miami will take advantage of Atlanta’s poor form at Chase Stadium. According to the MLS odds, the home team is the heavy favourite priced at 8/17. The trio who missed the Vancouver game are expected back, and Messi and Suarez can run riot once again. Their attacking quality will be too much for Atlanta.
Even without the deadliest scoring tandem in the league, Miami has quality in droves when going forward. Rojas has been in fine form since his arrival in April, scoring three goals in four starts. Campana and Taylor also have seven goals between them this term.
Electric everytime he steps on the pitch ⚡️ A well deserved place on the Team of the Week for Robert Taylor 👏 pic.twitter.com/BwnATfyqIE
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 27, 2024
Atlanta will be without first-choice goalkeeper Brad Guzan following his sending-off last weekend. The Herons’ frontline will look to take advantage of any rust when Josh Cohen steps in for his first league start of the season.
A 3-1 victory for the hosts is worth 9/1. Inter Miami are the top scorers in the league with 38 goals. There is a genuine threat of a rout in favour of Miami in this game. Keeping track of the live betting goalscorer markets is beneficial. If Sartini’s side takes a strong lead into the second half, we expect him to rest his stars. Campana will be a strong option and can score his second goal from the bench in three games.
Inter Miami vs Atlanta United Betting Tips
Inter Miami’s goal-scoring threat is stronger than any team in the league. With the home advantage, we expect them to continue that trend. A bet on Inter Miami to score over 2.5 goals is worth 6/5. The league leaders have scored 12 goals in their last five league games.
Atlanta has scored just one goal in their previous four games in all competitions. Striker Giorgos Giakoumakis has missed most of the season through injury and looks set to miss out again. Inter Miami to win and a clean sheet is priced at 2/1 with our online sportsbook.
With Messi and Suarez both back, we expect them to be involved with the goals. They have enticing odds of 4/6 and 5/6 for an anytime goal, respectively. Both can make a scoring return to the team and a Same Game Parlay for them to find the net is 21/10.
Miami’s disciplinary record is worth nothing. Their 43 cards are the third worst in the MLS. They have received 15 in their last four matches and betting on Miami to receive over 2.5 cards could prove advantageous. New customers can take advantage of our welcome bonus. Our matched deposit bonus allows you to bet on soccer with reduced risk. Deposit up to $500 and we will match it in bonus funds.
Inter Miami Team News and Predicted Line-Up
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Sergio Busquets will return to the squad following their omission from the Vancouver game. Their non-inclusion was not injury-related. Midfielder Federico Redondo made his first appearance since March in the victory over Vancouver. The Argentinian entered from the bench after damaging his LCL eight weeks ago and will travel with the squad on Saturday.
Diego Gomez should return soon after injuring his ankle at the end of April but will not be fit to appear in this game. Nicolas Freire and Facundo Farias will remain absent for the season following knee injuries.
- Predicted lineup: Callender, Alba, Kryvtsov, Aviles, Weigandt, Rojas, Busquets, Gressel, Taylor, Suarez, Messi
Atlanta United Team News and Predicted Line-Up
Georgios Giakoumakis has missed Atlanta’s last two games with a concussion and hamstring injury. They will assess him later in the week and he remains questionable to appear against Miami. Midfielder Tyler Wolff strained his MCL against Minnesota early this month. Brad Guzan will also miss the game via suspension following his sending-off last weekend.
Noah Cobb missed the game against LAFC with an ankle injury but should return to the squad on Saturday. Thiago Almada and Derrick Williams started on the bench in that game but are fit for a return against Miami.
- Predicted lineup: Cohen, Wiley, Gregersen, Abram, Lennon, McCarty, Muyumba, Silva, Almada, Lobzhanidze, Rios
