The MLS is also in action on Saturday night with another round of matches, this time even more packed than usual. The highlight is undoubtedly the match in Florida between Inter Miami and Cincinnati, two teams aiming to win the Supporters’ Shield, the trophy awarded to the team with the most points in the regular season. Cincinnati currently tops the Eastern Conference with 48 points, while Messi and his teammates, who have three games in hand on the Ohio club, are fifth with 41 points.
As they await the arrival of Rodrigo De Paul – the Argentine midfielder has agreed terms with Atletico Madrid – Miami are targeting a prestigious victory that would further boost their ambitions and also serve as a sort of “revenge” for the heavy defeat (3-0) suffered just ten days ago in the midweek fixture.
Cincinnati, in fact, was the only team to beat Javier Mascherano’s men in the last eight league games, six of which were won by Inter Miami, driven by an increasingly decisive Messi. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also shone last Sunday at the New York Red Bulls, in a match dominated 5-1: the Argentine – who risks missing the Cincinnati game due to suspension after ‘deserting’ the All-Star Game alongside Jordi Alba – scored yet another brace, catching up with Sam Surridge in the scoring charts
(18 goals for both). The feeling is that Inter Miami, even without its best player, will manage to avoid defeat this time against the team that has collected the most points away from home: goals and spectacle should not be lacking in a clash between two teams accustomed to finding the back of the net with ease (88 in total).
Philadelphia, meanwhile, will look to take advantage of the clash between Inter Miami and Cincinnati to close the gap on the Eastern Conference leaders. The Union are coming off two wins and a draw, finding consistency after two straight defeats to Columbus and Nashville, and are unlikely to slip up at home against Colorado Rapids, who have been very inconsistent recently (one win in five games).
In the Western Conference, Vancouver Whitecaps are currently in second place, one point behind leaders San Diego, with whom they drew 1-1 a week ago. The match against Sporting Kansas City, third from bottom in the West, seems like the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways. In the East, Charlotte are trying to get into the playoff spots.
Three consecutive wins have revitalized the North Carolina side, which has scored at least two goals in each of its last four games. The match against Toronto promises to be quite eventful. There should be no shortage of goals in Real Salt Lake-San Jose Earthquakes and Atlanta United-Seattle Sounders either.
Philadelphia Union (in Philadelphia Union-Colorado Rapids)
Vancouver Whitecaps (in Vancouver Whitecaps-Sporting Kansas City)
Matches with at least three goals in total
Inter Miami-Cincinnati
Charlotte-Toronto
Real Salt Lake-San Jose Earthquakes
MLS: matches with at least one goal per team
Atlanta United-Seattle Sounders
Inter Miami-Cincinnati
Real Salt Lake-San Jose Earthquakes
Odds comparison
A Philadelphia Union win is priced at 1.50 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and 1.55 on Snai. A goal in Real Salt Lake-San Jose Earthquakes is priced at 1.43 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and 1.37 on Snai.
- GOLDBET – Up to €3050 for sports and casino with 200% on your first sports deposit up to €1000 MORE INFO
- SNAI – €15 free + 50% on your first deposit up to €30 MORE INFO
- LOTTOMATICA – Up to €3050 on sports and casino with 200% on your first sports deposit up to €1000 MORE INFO