Two of MLS’s in-form teams will go head-to-head on Sunday morning, as Inter Miami play host to Nashville.
Inter Miami have bounced back in impressive fashion from their round of 16 exit at the Club World Cup.
Javier Mascherano’s men cruised to a 4-1 win at CF Montreal last weekend before earning a narrow 2-1 success at New England Revolution in midweek.
That pair of victories has lifted the Herons up into fifth place in the Eastern Conference ahead of this weekend’s home game with Nashville.
As for the visitors, they will arrive in Fort Lauderdale in the midst of a five-game winning run across all competitions, the most recent of which saw them dish out a 5-2 drubbing to D.C United.
B.J. Callaghan’s side are now honing in on top spot in the table and they could reach the summit of the standings should results go their way this weekend.
How the bookies view it: Miami on the march
The bookmakers’ odds suggest that Inter Miami will make it three wins on the bounce, with a home success trading at 4/5 on Boylesports.
Despite winning each of their last five matches, Nashville are big outsiders here at 21/10 on Boylesports, while a share of the Chase Stadium spoils is an unfancied 3/1 with the same firm.
Head to head: History favours the hosts
The two teams will meet for the 15th time this weekend, with Inter Miami taking top honours from six of the previous 14 encounters. Nashville have four wins to their name, while the other four meetings have ended all square.
Players to watch: More Messi magic?
After bagging a brace in each of his two last MLS matches, Lionel Messi looks too big to ignore for an anytime strike here at 4/5 on Boylesports. The legendary forward is 10/3 (Boyesports) to help himself to another couple of goals this weekend.
No player has scored more goals in MLS than Sam Surridge (16) this season. With that in mind, the Nashville striker looks overpriced at 5/4 (Boylesports) to make the net bulge in Miami.
Predicted line-ups
Oscar Ustair picked up a knock in the aforementioned 2-1 win over New England but the Inter Miami stopper should be fit enough to pull on the gloves this weekend.
Nashville boss Callaghan will be unable to call upon the services of Jonathan Perez due to the red card that he received against Philadelphia Union.
Inter Miami: Ustari; Weigandt, Martinez, Falcon, Alba; Allende, Cremaschi, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suarez
Nashville: Willis; Najar, Palacios, Maher, Lovitz; Qasem, Yazbek, Brugman, Muyl; Mukhtar, Surridge
Anything else catch the eye?
With goals expected to be on the menu in Miami, a Bet Builder of Over 0.5 First-Half Goals, Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals looks well worthy of support at 4/5 on Boylesports.
This Bet Builder would have been a winning one in each of Inter Miami’s last 10 matches in MLS.
Elsewhere, Sergio Busquets stands out to commit two or more fouls at 7/5 with PaddyPower. The experienced midfielder has been guilty of multiple offences in two of his last four outings in MLS.
GambleAware