Photo: Courtesy of Nashville SC
Nashville SC’s CONCACAF Champions Cup campaign rolls on Thursday night in front of what should be a packed Geodis Park as a few MLS up-and-comers named Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets among the rest of the Inter Miami CF squad travels to the Music City in a rematch of the 2023 Leagues Cup final.
With only four days of rest between the Boys in Gold’s last outing on Saturday night, a 1-1 draw in Colorado featuring a Teal Bunbury finish from the penalty spot, there has not been much time for an injured Nashville squad to heal. Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge have still yet to see action since suffering injuries in the first Champions Cup match of the season, and Nashville’s attack has suffered in MLS play as a result.
However, its stingy defense has secured a point in Nashville’s two matches vs. league opponents this year so far, but will a point be enough to put the club in position to advance to the Third Round with another leg vs. the Herons at Chase Stadium looming large next week?
Below are three things to watch for on Thursday night:
1) Strength vs. Strength
Inter Miami possesses the most talented squad Major League Soccer has ever seen and features an attack far superior than those of most clubs participating in leagues deemed “superior competition” to the top-flight American competition. Through three matches this season (Inter Miami has yet to play a Champions Cup match as it clinched a First Round bye), the side has scored eight goals total. However, early reports suggest the possibility that Messi and Suárez may sit this one out and rest up for Sunday’s bout with C.F. Montreal, opening the door for a still-potent duo of Leo Campana and Robert Taylor to lead the attack.
On the other side of the ball, Nashville SC has become synonymous with elite defense and finished with the fewest goals allowed in MLS in 2023 (32). Through two MLS matches this season, Nashville has surrendered just one goal and seven shots on target. Add the recent returns of a healthy Walker Zimmerman and Dan Lovitz into the mix and the talented group only gets stronger.
Who shows up big and steals the show on Thursday night? The flashy Miami group headlined by Messi, Suárez and Leo Campana, or the stout Nashville backline that quietly gets the job done?
2) A Late Hany Sighting?
Earlier this week, head coach Gary Smith suggested that Hany Mukhtar could potentially return to action on Thursday night. The former MLS MVP has been held out for precautionary reasons since suffering a disastrous injury on Feb. 22 at Moca FC. Mukhtar has rejoined the squad and could potentially see a second-half runout, one that would likely elicit a standing ovation from the Nashville faithful.
It was also reported by Fabrizio Romano on Wednesday that Mukhtar has reached a new deal with the club that would keep him in Nashville until 2027. If that’s the case, it could be a big week for the best player in Nashville SC’s short history.
3) Feed the Forster Frenzy
Forster Ajago made his professional debut in the second leg of Nashville’s First-Round matchup vs. Moca FC, dazzling in doing so. The 22-year-old scored twice and nearly completed his hat trick in the second half. Ajago is not currently eligible to play in MLS competition due to a lack of international roster spots possessed by Nashville, making Thursday one of the seldom occasions in which the Ghanian could earn competitive minutes.
That being said, Inter Miami is a whole different beast compared to Moca FC. Does Ajago’s inexperience keep him out of the Starting XI, or does Gary Smith put his faith in the dynamic young forward over the veteran Teal Bunbury?
Scouting Inter Miami CF (MLS: 7 Pnts, 1st in East)
You know the names — the greatest player in the world, who had 11 goals and five assists to his name in 14 matches across all competitions after joining Inter Miami last season, leads the laundry list of global superstars that will share the pitch with Nashville tomorrow night. Messi is flanked this season by his longtime Barca teammate and Uruguay international, Luis Suárez, who already has two goals and three assists on the season in three appearances. The two combined for four goals last weekend vs. Orlando City SC in the dominate 5-0 thrashing of its Florida rivals.
Per American Soccer Analysis, Messi leads MLS with 1.48 goals added this season. For reference, Nashville’s leading man in the same category is Lukas MacNaughton with 0.31 g+.
Underneath Messi and Suárez are Spanish legends Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, two former FC Barcelona stalwarts in their own right. Expected to be added to the mix on Thursday is 21-year-old defensive midfielder Federico Redonda, the son of Real Madrid great and Argentina international Fernando Redondo. Redonda was just made eligible to play after acquiring his visa as the “Messi effect” leads to further recruiting to Tata Martino’s group. In addition, USMNT right-back Deandre Yedlin was traded to FC Cincinnati earlier this week, likely foreshadowing an expanded role for MLS veteran Julian Gressel on Thursday night and perhaps another addition it the position in the near future.
Through its three competitive matches thus far in 2024, Inter Miami has outscored its opponents 8-1.
Projected Starting XI
Bunbury
Shaffelburg | Boyd | Yearwood
Godoy | Davis
Lovitz | MacNaughton | Zimmerman | Moore
Willis
