Minnesota United vs. Inter Miami
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Allianz Field
Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: KSTP-AM, 1500
Weather: 76 degrees, sunny, 8 mph east wind
Betting line: MNUFC plus-125; draw plus-270; Miami plus-195
Form: MNUFC (5-2-4, 19 points) ended a three-match unbeaten skid with a 3-0 win at Austin FC last weekend. Miami (6-1-3, 21 points) bounced back from being ousted from CONCACAF Champions Cup to throttle New York Red Bulls 4-1 in MLS action last Saturday.
Recent matchups: Minnesota has played Miami only once since the Herons joined MLS in 2020; Inter won that match 2-1 in Fort Lauderdale in 2022.
Look-ahead: With MNUFC advancing to play St. Louis City in U.S. Open Cup’s round of 16 on May 21, the Loons will now play four consecutive Wednesdays — on top of MLS games each weekend through June 1. The busy stretch continues with a road trip to Houston on Wednesday.
Context: Messi-mania has arrived. One of the greatest players in soccer history, Lionel Messi, is expected to play in what might be the 37-year-old Argentine’s only match in Minnesota. He played 90 minutes and scored against RBNY last weekend.
RELATED FEATURE: Before Lionel Messi, Pele’s ‘aura’ captured Minnesota soccer fans in 1976
Check-in: Ticket prices for Saturday range from $230 in the supporters sections in the south end of the stadium to $1,100 for the premium areas at midfield and between the team’s dugouts, according to SeatGeek on Friday morning.
Absences: Hassani Dotson (knee), Owen Gene (ankle), Kipp Keller (hamstring) are out. Kelvin Yeboah (ankle) is questionable.
Big picture: Dotson has been moved to the season-ending injury list and without a contract beyond this year, the 2019 MLS draft pick might have played his final match for United.
Projected XI: In a 5-3-2 formation, FW Tani Oluwaseyi, FW Robin; MF Joaquin Pereyra, MF Wil Trapp, Carlos Harvey; LWB Joseph Rosales, CB Nicholas Romero, CB Michael Boxall, CB Jefferson Diaz, RWB Bongi Hlongwane; GK Dayne St. Clair.
Scouting report: Miami ranks within the top six in MLS in goals scored (20) and goals conceded (11). But it’s offense Minnesotan soccer aficionados will want to see out of Messi and Co., and what Eric Ramsay and associates will want to stop. Last year, Messi and Luis Suarez each scored 20 goals in MLS play. This year, Messi has four and Suarez two through 10 games. But Suarez is tied for MLS lead with six assists.
Prediction: Minnesota soccer supporters will will get their wish. Messi will impress — either scoring or creating a goal — but MNUFC will come out with the victory. Loons win 2-1.
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