Leo Messi is back. After two months out due to an ankle injury suffered in the Copa America final, the world’s best player returns to Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino’s squad to lead Inter Miami in the match at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (USA) against the Philadelphia Union in the twenty-eighth round of the MLS.
Despite missing a session this week due to a throat problem, Messi has trained normally under Argentine coach Gerardo Martino and will get minutes for the first time since July 14, when Argentina won the Copa America final against Colombia.
“He’s fine now, he returned to training yesterday. He’s scheduled for tomorrow’s match. After training we’ll define the strategy with him, but he’s available.“Martino said at his pre-match press conference at Chase Stadium.
“VWe have the best player in the world back in the team, who was on a positive streak, so we are all happy about that situation.“, he added.
Despite Messi’s prolonged absence, Inter Miami has maintained an outstanding performance in the MLS. They are leading the East with 59 points and are coming off four consecutive victories.
Martino’s team has already secured its ticket to the postseason and is very close to winning the ‘Supporters’ Shield’, the title awarded to the club that accumulates the most points in the regular season.
Messi, 37, has only played 12 games in this league campaign. He has scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists.
His team did miss him in the recent Leagues Cup, the tournament that pits MLS clubs against Liga MX clubs, in which he was eliminated in the round of 16.
In the MLS East, first place is not in doubt, but second place is, with Cincinnati and Columbus Crew in contention. These two teams will face each other in the Ohio derby this Saturday, with Cincinnati currently in second place with a two-point lead.
It will be a direct matchup between two of the most interesting talents in MLS, Argentine Lucho Acosta, last year’s MVP with Cincinnati, and Colombian Juan Camilo ‘Cucho’ Hernández, with the Crew.
The MLS matchday also features the Los Angeles derby between the Los Angeles Galaxy, led by Spaniard Riqui Puig and German Marco Reus, and Los Angeles FC, led by Frenchmen Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris, first against second in the Western Conference.
The Galaxy have four more points than LAFC, but their neighbors have played two games less, so they are virtually the leaders of the table. EFE
Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union lineup likely in MLS
Drake Callender, Marcelo Weigandt, Tomas Aviles, David Martinez, Jordi Alba, Yannick Bright, Sergio Busquets, Federico Redondo; Robert Taylor, Diego Gomez and Luis Suarez. Coach: Gerardo Martino.
Probable lineup for Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami, in MLS
Andre Blake; Olivier Mbaizo, Jakob Glesnes, Jack Elliott, Kai Wagner; Danley Jean Jacques, Alejandro Bedoya, Jack McGlynn, Jeremy Rafanello; Tai Baribo y Mikael Uhre. DT: Jim Curtin.
Match data between Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union in MLS
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