The third round of the Leagues Cup features a clash between two teams with very serious chances of making it to the knockout stage. Can Inter Miami pull it off without Lionel Messi or will UNAM Pumas find their way to the Top 4?
Even at this day and age, having Messi on the pitch makes a huge difference. We saw it in the previous round, after he picked up an early injury in the 11th minute. Inter Miami struggled against Necaxa and had to go all the way to penalties to win. Together with the three points from the opening round, the Herons are now 3rd in the group stage. With 11 other MLS sides with almost equal chances, Inter Miami need a clean win here.
Pumas are in an identical position with five points ahead of this clash, having beaten Atlanta Utd 3-2 in the previous round and Orlando City through penalties in the opener. And while the Collegiates are hardly among the strongest Mexican teams, their unhinged playstyle is what sets them apart. You can always expect action when Pumas are in play.
How the bookies view it: No surprises here
Bookmakers definitely re-adjusted the odds after Messi's injury but Inter Miami remain a solid betting favorite at 9/10. The visitors have been priced at 13/5, while the draw is available at 29/10.
Recent head to head: Another new rivalry
This happens to be the first official meeting between these two teams. However, Pumas already played the other big team from Florida and won, so maybe this will boost their confidence.
Players to watch: This is Segovia's tournament
Obviously, with Lionel Messi gone, we have to take a closer look when we pick our betting targets. Luis Suarez will always be a good shout but we would rather go for the higher odds and pick 22-year-old Telasco Segovia in this matchup. The young Venezuelan midfielder is not only in the middle of his best season ever, but he scored in both Leagues Cup matches to date.
Probable line-ups
Inter Miami: Rios, Alba, Allen, Gonzalo, Weigandt, Segovia, Busquets, de Paul, Allende, Suarez, Solari
UNAM Pumas: Parra, Mosquera, Duarte, Silva, Bennevendo, Carrasquilla, Caicedo, Ruvalcaba, Vite, Lopez, Martinez
Anything else catch the eye?
One way or another, this fixture will be a spectacle and we envision a bunch of goals, most likely scored in Pumas' net. The visitors have not impressed with their defence and the only reason for their success is their effectiveness in attack. And in this match, they will be without Keylor Navas in goal, since the former Real Madrid goalie picked up an unnecessary red card in the previous round.
This means that even with fewer chances due to Messi's absence, Inter Miami's chances increase significantly because the visitors will have to rely on their inexperienced 17-year-old reserve keeper. We have to back the MLS side in this one and we expect at least three goals at full time. But we also expect action on both ends, so you can also opt for BTTS if you believe the odds are worth the risk.
GambleAware