Lionel Messi has settled in nicely with Inter Miami, providing 10 goals and three assists through his first eight matches with the club.
Yet all those games have come in cup competition, and he will finally begin life in Major League Soccer in earnest as Messi makes his MLS debut against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.
Or so we think. Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino was honest about needing to find rest for Inter Miami players throughout the remainder of the season, especially aging stars like Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, who are all at least 34 years old.
Given that Inter Miami are gunning for a mountainous comeback, needing to make up a 14-point deficit in 11 matches to reach the MLS playoffs, Martino will have to weigh rest with the heightened importance of each remaining fixture.
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NY Red Bulls vs Inter Miami match facts
- Date: Saturday, August 26
- Kickoff Time: 7:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 a.m. BST (Sun, Aug. 27) / 9:30 a.m. AEST (Sun, Aug. 27)
- Location: Red Bull Arena (Harrison, NJ)
- Official: Allen Chapman
- Last meeting: Inter Miami 0-1 NY Red Bulls (May 31, 2023 | MLS)
NY Red Bulls vs Inter Miami prediction, odds
- Moneyline lean: Inter Miami (+170)
- Handicap lean: Inter Miami +0.5 (-185)
- Score prediction: NY Red Bulls 1-3 Inter Miami
Inter Miami have begun to show real signs of fatigue following the exhausting Leagues Cup and U.S. Open Cup schedule, and as a new-look team get set to attempt a truly challenging league comeback, Gerardo Martino has a real task on his hands to keep the players fresh despite the huge importance of each remaining game.
Still, Inter Miami managed to grind out draws with the best MLS has to offer, and the Red Bulls are not amongst that upper echelon. Sitting 11th in the league table, Troy Lesesne's team profile as one like the many Inter Miami shredded before eventually meeting their match against the league's best sides.
There's every reason to imagine that Inter Miami will take care of business here, even if Lionel Messi starts on the bench.
| RBNY win | Draw | Inter Miami win | Both teams to score Y / N | Over / Under 2.5 goals | RBNY -0.5 | MIA +0.5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) | +135 | +260 | +170 | -175 / +125 | -155 / +110 | +125 | -185 |
| Sports Interaction (Canada) | 2.38 | 3.79 | 2.56 | 1.53 / 2.19 | 1.69 / 2.14 | 2.27 | 1.61 |
| Top Betting Sites (UK) | 13/10 | 12/5 | 17/10 | 8/13, 6/5 | 7/10, 11/10 | — | — |
| Unibet (Australia) | 2.45 | 3.45 | 2.70 | 1.55 / 2.40 | 1.65 / 2.20 | — | — |
| Dafabet (India) | 2.37 | 3.65 | 2.80 | 1.59 / 2.32 | — | — | — |
NY Red Bulls vs Inter Miami: best bet
- Pick: Half with most goals — 2H
- Odds: +100 (BetMGM)
New York are a very defensively sound side, but defending this Inter Miami team is a whole new animal. Still, they have done well to reach halftime with a manageable scoreline, even if they struggle in the attacking third. In their past five matches, just two of the seven combined goals scored have come in the first half.
Inter Miami have built their new identity on fast starts, but against this Red Bulls side, with an XI that may include some squad rotation, it could take time for them to break down their opponents.
NY Red Bulls vs Inter Miami prop bet
- Pick: Robert Taylor to score or assist a goal
- Odds: +195 (FanDuel)
It's possible that Lionel Messi doesn't start this game, but one player who doesn't need rest is Robert Taylor, who came off the bench against FC Cincinnati in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal. Taylor has been electrified by Messi's arrival, and this game will be a good chance for him to carry the attacking load for Inter Miami.
Last time these two teams played, without Messi or any of his former Barcelona teammates, Taylor created two chances in a half-hour of action after coming on as a substitute, and he should be more heavily involved here.
NY Red Bulls vs Inter Miami live stream, TV channel
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| Streaming | |
|---|---|
| Global | Apple TV+ (MLS Season Pass) |
