This article is also available in French.
Montreal vs Inter Miami Preview
This week in the MLS we have Montréal vs Inter Miami. The game takes place on Saturday, May 11th, at 7:30 pm Eastern Time. Not too long ago the MLS was overlooked as a major sporting institution in North America. However, with the inclusion of soccer superstars Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, fans are flocking to catch every Inter Miami game. Both icons will feature in this weekend’s feature at the Saputo Stadium.
Inter Miami’s Harlem Globetrotters-style lineup has resulted in sell-out crowd all over the MLS as fans want to see Suarez and Messi in action. This Saturday will be no different, with all 6,500 seats expected to be full. The Florida-based team has scored 13 goals in their last three games and is keen to remain at the zenith of the Eastern Conference despite Cincinnati snapping at their heels.
Montreal vs Inter Miami Preview Head-To-Head and Key Stats
In the reverse fixture back in March, Montreal pulled off one of the shocks of the season by picking up a 3-2 win on the road. Inter Miami team was missing its vital talisman, Leo Messi. Messi and Luis Suarez were only half-fit and appeared for the last 20 minutes. Even with the absentees, it was still a monumental win. Inter Miami still has some incredible talent in their squad, and even without their star men, our sportsbook still had them as clear favourites going into the match.
Since Montreal handed Inter Miami one of only two defeats, they have suffered so far this season. Laurent Courtois’s men will quietly hope they prove to be Inter’s bogey team. However, if we take out this game and look at the two teams subjectively on paper, Miami is the stronger.
Not only have Gerardo Martino’s men scored twice as many goals as CF Montreal in the league, but they have put six past the New York Red Bulls last weekend. That included a sensational Luis Suarez hat trick in 13 minutes. Matías Cóccaro has three goals all season and is Montreal’s top scorer. Which should show just how much of a gulf there is between the two teams on paper. Even in the twilight of their careers, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, and Jordi Alba still perform their magic on the pitch and destroy teams single-handedly. Surely, this is to be expected from a group of players who have won every accolade possible in their careers.
Montreal vs Inter Miami Predictions
Correct Score Prediction: Montreal 1-3 Inter Miami
Inter Miami has been getting into its groove of late. Messi and Suarez, in particular, are rekindling a partnership that made them part of FC Barcelona’s greatest frontline in the early 2010s. Despite Inter Miami having to travel to Canada for this game and CF Montreal already boasting a win over them in March, we’d say there’s only one likely outcome in this game.
Although the odds are subject to change, Montreal is currently the outsider to win at +255 with Novibet. Inter Miami will want to send out a statement of intent. Given that they’ve aggressively pursued some of the world’s top names and have David Beckham at the helm, nothing but the best is good enough. They will be eager to right the wrong in this return fixture and should be fired up. That is why our sportsbook has them at -108 to win this weekend.
Montreal was leaky at the back and lost 4-1 to Nashville just a few days ago. It’s unlikely that CF Montreal will play in the same 3-4-3 formation that saw them trounced in this game, especially when they face a far more dangerous offence from Suarez and Messi.
However, even if Laurent Courtois opts for four or even five at the back, their central defensive positions are where they are vulnerable. Fernando Álvarez is still only 20 years of age and will face the might of Miami’s attack next to Joel Waterman. It is undoubtedly an area that Inter will target. We predict they’ll have plenty of opportunities to find their star men.
Miami is far from perfect at the back, so while Montreal might get on the scoresheet, Miami should be victorious. We’re going to say 3-1 to Gerardo Martino’s men.
Montreal vs Inter Miami Betting Tips
Given that the single bets signal that the writing is on the wall for Montreal this weekend – there might be some value in ancillary markets or even in-play wagers. Although it’s tougher to call, goalscorer bets can often yield a reasonable return if you know what you’re looking for.
While we shouldn’t expect Inter Miami to continue scoring at the rate they have been, it’s clear that Suarez and Messi are still operating at a top level, even in the latter stages of their career. It’s a far cry from where Miami was just a month ago, with pressure piling on their manager. Given their last three dominant performances, all talk of Gerardo leaving his post has rightly disappeared.
We like the look of a few of these markets. Betting on Inter Miami to win 3-1 is currently +1325. But if you don’t fancy betting on the correct score, over 3.5 goals at +138. Montreal hasn’t won in their last four games, and the single goal they’ve scored in their last two matches was an own goal. The idea they might get one over on Inter Miami, even if they are at home, is improbable. We expect to see goals, and we predict to see Inter win. Plenty of markets tick those two boxes when betting on soccer. The over 3.5 goals at +138 is our pick.
Montreal Team News
FC Montreal will be concerned about how they crumbled at Nashville. The game was over after 46 minutes, and they could have easily been down four or five goals at half-time. Laurent Courtois will need to address this quickly if they will put up any sort of spirited display against Inter Miami this weekend.
Bryce Duke scored a goal on his return this week against Forge FC. We predict he will slot back into the starting eleven against his former team. Sebastian Breza made some great saves midweek. Whether he gets the nod ahead of Jonathan Sirois could be the critical change we see for Montreal.
Given who they’re up against, Montreal will probably go for a back line of four against Inter Miami to stem their flowing, relentless offence. If Joel Waterman lines up at center back for Montreal, you’d expect Miami to target it as an area of weakness. They may opt for two holding midfielders instead. It would be an extremely negative way to play at home, especially considering they defeated Miami less than six weeks ago.
Miami is operating with a much stronger unit this time around. Although it would be a negative setup, staying compact and not leaking any early goals could be the way forward if Laurent Courtois’s men want to pick up anything from this game.
✨ With a historic 6-goal involvement in a single match, Messi has rightfully earned the title of Player of the Week! 🐐🏆
Every goal contribution in the thread below 🧵⤵️ pic.twitter.com/jKtqzFCD6S
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 6, 2024
Inter Miami Team News
With 11 goals in 10 games this season and a hat-trick just a few days ago, you’d think Luis Suarez is a nailed-on starter in Montreal. Lionel Messi, for all the same reasons, will also be in the lineup. Barring any last-minute injuries or training knocks, it’ll be these two who should cruise them over the finish line.
Inter Miami is likely to remain unchanged at the back. Their goalkeeper Drake Callender and the usual back four are likely to start. The two banks of three midfielders and strikers have served them well. It has been a significant reason why they’ve managed to score so many goals past teams over the last three matchdays.
If Jordi Alba can return from a leg injury, Inter Miami could be able to field a full-strength team. We don’t predict any significant formation changes unless Busquets, Suarez, or Messi aren’t in the starting eleven. However, even if this is the case, we can’t see Gerardo deviating too far from the recent starting lineups. Perhaps Messi will drop back into a ten-role to connect the play and feed Suarez and Taylor. Or Busquets could play as an anchor. Either way, they have much deeper options than Montreal and should be victorious.
