Major League Soccer (MLS) will start its 2024 season this Wednesday, February 21. With Lionel Messi as the main figure, the tournament will begin with several interesting matches.
Inter Miami so far
The Inter Miami team had a long pre-season during a tour of several countries, promoting friendlies against clubs and even national teams, aiming to prepare in the best possible way before starting the new MLS season.
Furthermore, the club, which had already invested heavily in signing names like Busquets, Alba, and Lionel Messi, also announced during its pre-season the arrival of Luís Suárez to further reinforce the team led by Argentine Gerardo Martino.
In the last 5 games played during their preparation for the new season, the Miami team recorded a win, two draws, and two defeats. During this period they beat the Hong Kong All-Stars, drew with Kobe and Newell’s Old Boys, as well as losing to Al Nassr Riyadh and also to Al-Hilal.
Playing as a home team at the DRV PNK Stadium, the Inter Miami team recorded a recent campaign with just one win, four draws, and five losses in the last 10 matches played.
The pre-season ghost
If 2023 did not end well, we can see that in 2024 the beginning has not been encouraging. Now Inter Miami at least has the chance to start the official season with a positive result and perhaps have a little more peace of mind as the season continues.
Unlike Messi’s team, Real Salt Lake’s pre-season was positive: two wins, one draw and one defeat. The team’s highlight has been midfielder Diego Luna, who plays on the left side of the field. The team’s main point of development is the defensive line, which has suffered many comeback defeats and does not have fast players.
It is worth mentioning that Real Salt Lake, a team from Sandy, in the metropolitan region of Salt Lake City, Utah, won the MLS in 2009 and continues to rely on the formula that made them champions, assembling a competitive, younger squad without many relevant players in the squad. world football scene. The team’s highlight is Argentine midfielder Pablo Ruiz, due to his marking and disarming ability, combined with precise passes and constant danger in dead ball situations.
Also Read: Inter Miami vs Real Salt Lake Preview, Prediction, and Odds| 21 February 2024
Will Messi be on the field?
The best player in the world, Lionel Messi, suffered from injuries during the pre-season, even being left out of some games. A situation that outraged some fans in China, where the friendlies were played, with the player’s unforeseen absence. Messi had to apologize and explain himself after what happened, such was the repercussion of the episode.
However, there are some doubts surrounding Messi. The Argentine did not play in some friendlies and others he played only a few minutes. Despite that, Gerardo Martino was in charge of giving a positive message at a press conference about the status of “Leo” and everything indicates that he is in full condition for his debut.