Inter Miami vs Columbus Crew - prediction, team news, lineups

Seeking a record-extending seventh consecutive win, Inter Miami proceed their MLS run connected Saturday, erstwhile they conscionable Eastern Conference rivals Columbus Crew astatine Nu Stadium.

Miami's occurrence streak has taken them up to 2nd spot successful the standings, conscionable 2 points down Nashville SC aft 17 matches.

Match preview

Inter Miami person won six consecutive regular-season fixtures for the archetypal clip successful their little history, pursuing a 1-0 distant triumph implicit CF Montreal past weekend.

Lionel Messi whitethorn beryllium missing pursuing his affectional exertions astatine the World Cup, but chap seasoned Luis Suarez has scored six times crossed his past 3 MLS appearances, including the lone extremity successful Canada.

Capping an historical time for the Herons, Brazil midfielder Casemiro made his nine debut and astir lasted a afloat 90 minutes, bolstering their depleted ranks. 

The defending MLS Cup champions person been deed hard by absences but inactive beryllium 2nd successful the Eastern Conference, and caput manager Guillermo Hoyos has suggested that determination is nary unreserved for Messi's return.

Neither Argentina's skipper nor his teammate Rodrigo De Paul are acceptable to instrumentality portion this weekend, oregon erstwhile Miami footwear disconnected their Leagues Cup run against Liga MX broadside Atletico de San Luis a fewer days later.

Yet, fixed their caller grounds against Columbus Crew, the Fort Lauderdale nine are inactive beardown favourites for Saturday's lucifer - they person won six of the past 7 regular-season meetings.

During that time, Columbus person lone picked up 1 point, with Messi bagging a brace successful their 5-1 distant nonaccomplishment past season.

It has been a stark autumn from grace for the Crew successful caller months, aft they drew acclaim by winning the MLS Cup successful 2023 and reaching the CONCACAF Champions Cup last 1 twelvemonth later. 

Nonetheless, aft a bleak commencement to the 2026 season, they person won 2 of their past 3 matches, including a 2-1 derby triumph implicit FC Cincinnati past clip out.

Leading Columbus up to 11th spot successful the Eastern Conference table, interim caput manager Laurent Courtois has steadied the vessel aft Henrik Rydstrom had unsuccessfully replaced Wilfried Nancy. 

It remains to beryllium seen if caller 'Designated Player' Brais Mendez volition present articulation the Crew successful Miami, owed to a deficiency of match-fitness, but the Spanish prima whitethorn beryllium acceptable to look Atlas successful the Leagues Cup adjacent Tuesday.

Inter Miami Major League Soccer form:

W W W W W W

Columbus Crew Major League Soccer form:

L L D W L W

Columbus Crew signifier (all competitions):

D W W D L W

Team News

Although Messi returned to grooming connected Wednesday, conscionable 10 days aft Argentina's decision to Spain successful the World Cup final, some the 39-year-old prima and De Paul are inactive unavailable.

Furthermore, Miami manager Hoyos indispensable woody with a agelong lack list, featuring players including Telasco Segovia (suspended), Tadeo Allende and Mexican guardant German Berterame.

The second - who has already recorded 12 extremity involvements successful his archetypal MLS play - was taken disconnected the tract successful an ambulance during past week's crippled against Montreal, aft sustaining injuries to his chemoreceptor and near shoulder.

Nonetheless, the hosts tin inactive telephone upon Suarez to spearhead their attack, portion Casemiro should marque his location debut successful cardinal midfield.

The visitors, meanwhile, indispensable question without Brooks Lennon and Wessam Abou Ali owed to injury, portion caller lad Mendez is not expected to play either.

In amended quality for Courtois, experienced midfielder Andre Gomes returned from a thigh strain to marque a substitute quality past weekend.

Set to enactment Jamal Thiare up front, Daniel Gazdag has conscionable converted a punishment successful back-to-back games, scoring his 26th and 27th spot kicks successful MLS - lone 2 men person ever netted more.

Inter Miami imaginable starting lineup:

Novo; Mura, Fray, Micael, Reguilon; Bright, Ruiz, Casemiro, Plambeck; Silvetti, Suarez

Columbus Crew imaginable starting lineup:

Schulte; Moreira, Zawadzki, Camacho; Farsi, Gomes, Bangoura, Arfsten; Habroune, Gazdag; Thiare

We say: Inter Miami 2-1 Columbus Crew 

Though they whitethorn beryllium missing a raft of cardinal players, Inter Miami are usually pugnacious to decision connected location turf, portion the Crew stay precise inconsistent connected the road.

So, the high-flying Herons tin assertion a seventh consecutive triumph - and their 5th connected the rotation against Columbus. 

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.