Inter Miami will host Real Salt Lake in the first match of the season in the Major Soccer League. The Houston Dynamo eliminated Claret and Cobalt in the first round of the playoffs. They won that pivotal third game on penalties (4-3). The previous season, the Herons ended second from bottom in the Eastern Conference with 34 points.
Preview (Inter Miami vs. Real Salt Lake)
Inter Miami enters 2024 as the early favorite to win the MLS Cup. They finished third in terms of points during the previous regular season. That should come as no surprise when you bolster your team with a guy like Lionel Messi. Add a few important players with a winning record to go along with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. The addition of Tata Martino to the coaching staff will raise the bar for this group. They won the League Cup last year to become the first in club history. The 61-year-old manager’s ability to adapt to different tactical ideas is a benefit.
When he took over for Phil Neville in 2023, his frequent changes in strategy produced some surprising results for this team. Although his players displayed mastery in the Leagues Cup, they were disoriented at home over the last stretch of the regular season. Miami finished the 2024 domestic season with a six-match losing streak. RSL qualified for the playoffs for the third straight season last season, breaking beyond the 50-point barrier for the first time since 2019.
Last season, Pablo Mastroeni kept emphasizing long passes when in control and a mid-block when out of possession. This approach helped them finish fifth in the Western Conference, only three points behind second place. This team became much more dynamic moving forward after adding aggressive players like Cristian Arango in the middle of the previous season. They scored five goals more in 2023 (48) than they did in the previous regular season. Their backline frequently turned the ball over and struggled to contain the opposition within the penalty area. It contributed to them conceding the second-most goals among Western Conference playoff teams (50) in 2023.
Team News
Due to a sports hernia, Facundo Farias tore his cruciate ligament last month, and Serhiy Kryvtsov is still healing from a painful hamstring, Miami may be without Benjamin Cremaschi to start the season. Due to cruciate ligament injuries, Ian Fray, Franco Negri, and Cordin Jean may not be able to play for the Herons. Luis Suarez, a former teammate of Messi at Barcelona, joined the team during the off-season. Suarez and Gremio scored 17 goals last season, which tied for the second-most in the Brasileiro Serie A. Miami also signed Julian Gressel, who helped the Columbus Crew win the MLS Cup, and brought in Nicolas Freire on loan from UNAM.
Due to a meniscus problem, Pablo Ruiz may not play for RSL, and Erik Holt’s health is uncertain due to a shoulder ailment. The United Soccer League’s (USL) 2023 Young Player of the Year, Aidel Barajas, was signed by the team, along with Matt Crooks from Middlesbrough, a Championship team, and Alexandros Katranis from Piast Gliwice, a top-flight Polish team. Their highest scorer from 2023, Jefferson Savarino, moved to Botafogo in the Brazilian top division, while Danny Musovski signed with the Seattle Sounders. Their top goalscorer from 2020 and 2021, Damir Kreilach, signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Inter Miami 3-1 Real Salt Lake
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