Inter Miami are set to play their second Club World Cup group stage match against FC Porto at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. After there was concern surrounding Lionel Messi’s status, the team ultimately confirmed its captain will start today.
Coach Javier Mascherano confirmed that Messi trained well after their match against Al Ahly, which ended in a goalless draw. During an open training session, Messi was seen touching his leg as if in discomfort, but Miami’s head coach said he was fine.
“Leo is fine, he completed the training. Cameras were focusing on him touching his leg, but it was nothing. He is fit and he is playing tomorrow,” he told reporters ahead of the match. The coach also talked about Jordi Alba, who will start on the bench.
“Jordi, today, three weeks ago suffered a hamstring injury, so we will evaluate what is better if he starts or comes on as a substitute. We know, but I won’t tell you,” Mascherano said before placing the Spaniard among the substitutes.
Lionel Messi playing during Inter Miami’s inaugural match in the FIFA Club World Cup (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
On the other hand, Yannick Bright, Gonzalo Lujan and David Ruiz remain out. To Mascherano, the team is viewing the match as a way to “test” themselves “against an opponent that plays in Europe, plays in the Champions League, that plays in important competitions. Well, we’re doing it with the hope of being able to prove what we’re really worth, too.“
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Inter Miami’s confirmed lineup against Porto
While Inter Miami’s match against Porto will be a tough test, all teams in the Group A of the Club World Cup are all tied with only one point, after the Portuguese club also drew 0-0 with Palmeiras.
In that sense, both teams are looking to add three points tonight. To do that, Mascherano will go with a 4-3-3 formation. Here’s Inter Miami’s lineup vs Porto: Oscar Ustari; Marcelo Weigandt, Maximiliano Falcon, Ian Fray, Noah Allen; Benjamin Cremaschi, Sergio Busquets, Telasco Segovia; Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Tadeo Allende.
