With first place in the Eastern Conference on the line, Nashville SC and visiting Inter Miami CF return to MLS play on Saturday night after a two-week league break.
Both sides spent the last fortnight competing in the Leagues Cup. Nashville and Miami went 1-2 against LIGA MX opponents, and neither qualified for the quarterfinals.
With regular-season MLS play again at the forefront, Nashville (12-2-4, 40 points) knows the opportunity it has to expand its lead over the reigning MLS champs.
“I think when you play against Miami, you always need a big collective effort,” said head coach B.J. Callaghan, whose team owns the league’s best record. “We now have a singular focus and mission, and that’s on the MLS season. The objective is crystal clear: compete each and every match to finish as high on the table as we can.”
Nashville has allowed a league-best 14 goals this season, but comes off a 2-2 draw against D.C. United in its last MLS outing on Aug. 1. Goalkeeper Brian Schwake has posted eight clean sheets this year, but the rookie will be put to the test by a Miami attack that shares the league lead with 45 goals.
Sam Surridge’s 11 goals lead Nashville while Hany Mukhtar adds six.
Miami (11-2-5, 38 points), which hasn’t lost a regular-season game since May 2, faces an emotional hurdle ahead of the heavyweight bout. Superstar Lionel Messi, who leads the club with 12 goals and eight assists in 15 games, returned to action for the team’s final Leagues Cup game on Wednesday following the passing of his father, Jorge, on Aug. 8.
While the all-world icon is expected to continue playing with Miami, his teammates have shown admiration for his willingness to remain with the club.
“He is an example for all of us because he is going through a very difficult stage, but he has a commitment with not only his teammates but with the club and that’s incredible,” said Casemiro, who signed with Miami on July 22. “I had never seen that in my life. All we can do is thank him for being here.”
Luis Suarez has added 10 goals for Miami, while German Berterame owns seven. Nashville and Miami will meet again on Sept. 12 in South Florida.
–Field Level Media
