Lionel Messi will be on the road with Inter Miami as they face Atlanta United on Wednesday night, but the Herons might be missing a few key players in their quest to secure the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield. Miami coach Tata Martino confirmed Messi will be joining the team for their two-game road trip, starting with Atlanta and continuing with a match against New York City FC on Saturday. This comes after Messi played his first match in two months during their 3-1 victory over Philadelphia, a welcome return for the superstar. However, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, Sergio Busquets, will miss the Atlanta match due to a yellow card accumulation suspension. Adding to Miami’s worries, defender David Martinez left Saturday’s game with a right adductor strain. Atlanta’s artificial surface could also lead to limited minutes for Messi, Luis Suarez, and other veteran players, a strategic move Martino might implement to preserve their health. Messi, however, highlighted that even with a potentially weakened lineup, this wouldn’t be anything new for Miami. “The truth is that throughout the year, we had a lot of bad luck with injuries,” Messi said in Spanish after his comeback match. “We were never at full strength. Due to one thing or another, we were always missing players. But the team always pushed forward. Today, we are in first place with a big lead, and deservedly so. Hopefully, we can finish at the top for what it means and for what’s to come after as well.” Miami currently sits atop the MLS standings, seven points ahead of the Los Angeles Galaxy in the Supporters’ Shield race, with a game in hand. They also hold a commanding 10-point lead over FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference. In contrast, Atlanta United (8-13-7, 31 points) is fighting for their playoff survival, currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Their recent performance has been disappointing, with a 2-0 upset defeat to Nashville SC on Saturday ruining their chance for consecutive wins, the first since mid-March. Atlanta’s interim coach, Rob Valentino, expressed his disappointment and acknowledged the need for improvement. “I’m at a loss for words for that tonight,” Valentino said regarding the Nashville performance. “I apologize to the people that watched that, and that won’t be happening again. But we have to move on. I have no choice there.” Atlanta has scored just one goal in their last three MLS matches, and their three active goal-scoring leaders, Saba Lobjanidze, Daniel Rios, and Jamal Thiare, are all goalless in their last four appearances across all competitions. The match on Wednesday promises to be a clash of contrasting fortunes, with Miami aiming for continued dominance while Atlanta seeks a crucial win to reignite their playoff hopes. Messi’s presence, despite potential limited minutes, will add another layer of intrigue to a match that could have significant implications for both teams’ seasons.
Messi to Travel with Inter Miami for Atlanta Clash Despite Potential Rotation
