Inter Miami will be back in action this weekend, facing off against Liga MX giants Tigres UANL in the Leagues Cup.
The match will take place at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
Unfortunately for Miami, their star forward Lionel Messi will be absent as he continues to recover from a severe ankle injury sustained during the Copa America final.
Despite Messi’s absence, Inter Miami managed to secure three points in their previous Leagues Cup fixture, defeating Puebla at home.
This weekend, they face a tougher opponent in Tigres UANL, one of the most formidable teams in North America.
Both Inter Miami and Tigres have each earned three points so far, while Puebla has been eliminated with no points from their two matches.
With both teams advancing to the knockout stage, Inter Miami’s head coach, Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, may opt to give some of the younger players a chance to prove themselves.
Alternatively, he might focus on securing a top position in the group for better seeding in the knockout rounds.
Here’s how Inter Miami might line up against Tigres UANL in a 4-3-3 formation:
GK: Drake Callender – Returning to the starting XI after CJ dos Santos’ underwhelming performance against Puebla.
RB: Marcelo Weigandt – The Argentine right-back retains his spot, with Ian Fray potentially coming on later in the match.
CB: Tomas Aviles – Back in the center of defense after recovering from a knock.
CB: Hector Martinez – Set for his second appearance for Miami, which allows Sergio Busquets to revert to his preferred midfield role.
LB: Jordi Alba – The former Spain international aims to continue his strong form, hoping to contribute another assist.
CM: Federico Redondo – Looking to improve after a less impressive showing against Puebla.
CM: Sergio Busquets – The ex-Barcelona star resumes his midfield duties after a brief stint in defense.
CM: Matias Rojas – The Paraguayan scored a stunning goal against Puebla and will aim to replicate that performance.
RW: Julian Gressel – In excellent form, providing key assists from the right wing.
ST: Luis Suarez – Leading the attack for the second consecutive match, seeking to add to his goal tally.
LW: Robert Taylor – A crucial player for Miami, Taylor will be tasked with stretching Tigres’ defense.
The match promises to be an exciting encounter as Inter Miami looks to build on their strong start in the Leagues Cup and continue their journey through the tournament.
