Major League Soccer

Oct 26, 2024 at 1.30am UK

Inter Miami CF Stadium

Inter Miami vs Atlanta

Match preview

In 2024, we saw the best regular season in MLS history, with Inter Miami setting the points record in style, beating the previous holders on Decision Day.

Now it's time for the real season to begin, and the Herons are on a winning streak. They've been unbeaten in nine consecutive domestic matches, with their last three games resulting in victories.

They scored 79 goals in the regular season, which was the most of any team in the league this year. They also won 22 games, just two short of the all-time record set by DC United and the Los Angeles Galaxy in 1998.

On Friday, the Herons will play their first-ever home playoff game as they look to secure their first post-season win since joining MLS in 2020.

Miami had a great 2024, winning 11 home games and going unbeaten in their final eight matches at Chase Stadium.

In the 2024 regular season, Tata Martino's team won nine times when they conceded the opening goal, collecting 27 points as a result.

Just a week ago, Atlanta United didn't even have a chance of making the playoffs. But they beat the odds and are still in the running for a second MLS Cup.

Rob Valentino's team were 2-0 up at half-time in Montreal on Tuesday, but despite letting that lead slip away in the second half, they kept their cool in the shootout.

They've got a tough challenge ahead of them if they want to beat this talented Miami squad, but they head into this encounter with plenty of momentum.

The Five Stripes have been on a roll lately, going undefeated in their last three matches against MLS opponents and netting multiple times on each of those occasions.

The last time they won an MLS playoff round was back in 2019. They made it to the Eastern Conference Final that year, but lost three of their previous four post-season fixtures since then.

In the regular season, Atlanta only managed to win four times away from home. Two of those wins were in Florida, including a 3-1 victory against Inter Miami at Chase Stadium in May.

Recent Performance

Inter Miami Major League Soccer form:DDDWWW

Atlanta United Major League Soccer form:DDLWWW

Team News

On Decision Day, the Herons were without David Ruiz, who was dealing with a right hamstring strain, David Martinez, who was out due to a right adductor issue, CJ dos Santos, who sat out with a sore hand, and Lawson Sunderland, who was an unused substitute and had recently recovered from a hamstring issue.

Leo Afonso was out with a sore groin, while Nicolas Freire and Facundo Farias couldn't play due to ACL injuries.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez both finished the regular season with 20 goals, with the former scoring a hat-trick last Saturday and the latter a brace. Benjamin Cremaschi was the other player to score for Miami.

Atlanta couldn't call on Edwin Mosquera for their wild-card clash with Le CFM because of a sore knee, while Quentin Westberg was out with a head injury.

There was one change to the Atlanta United starting 11 on Tuesday, with Ronald Hernandez coming in for Tyler Wolff.

Goals from Brooks Lennon and Stian Rode Gregersen put them 2-0 up, but it was Brad Guzan's heroics in the shootout that saw them through as he stopped Tom Pearce from 12 yards away – the only miss by either side.

Possible starting lineups

Inter Miami possible starting lineup:

Callender; Weigandt, Aviles, Kryvtsov, Alba; Gomez, Busquets, Rojas; Gressel, Suarez, Messi

Atlanta United possible starting lineup:

Guzan; Hernandez, Rode Gregersen, Williams, Amador; Slisz, Fortune; Lennon, Miranchuk, Lobzhanidze; Thiare