Sporting Kansas City vs Inter Miami: Preview, predictions and lineups

Sporting Kansas City are all set to take on Inter Miami this Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Major League Soccer action.

The Herons strong start to the 2024 season has been undone by a five-game winless run in both Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS play. Despite Lionel Messi’s return from injury, the south Florida side were held to a 2-2 draw against Colorado Rapids last weekend and crashed out of the Champions Cup to Liga MX giants Monterrey Wednesday night, losing 5-2 on aggregate.

However, Miami still remain in third place in the Eastern Conference table with 12 points from eight games played.

Sporting KC started their campaign off in bright fashion but have been left frustrated in the last several weeks with dropped points vs LA Galaxy and Portland Timbers. SKC found themselves up 2-0 against LA before the five-time MLS Cup winners scored three times in the last 10 minutes to claim all three points. At home vs the Timbers, SKC managed to establish a three-goal lead before crumbling in the second 45 to concede three goals and leave the contest with only one point.

Peter Vermes’ side sit in seventh place in the Western Conference standings with 10 points from seven games played. Sporting KC typically play their home games at Children’s Mercy Park, but with the expected involvement of Messi and a few of his ex-Barcelona friends the game is set to played at Arrowhead Stadium (home of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs) that holds just over 76,000 fans.

Here’s 90min’s preview of the clash between SKC and the Herons.

*14 April 2024

Sporting Kansas City vs Inter Miami H2H record

Current Form (all competitions)

Miami’s No. 10 featured from the jump for the first time since March 13 in the Champions Cup second-leg defeat to Rayados. Messi and Luis Suarez were unable to get much going up front after a few early half-chances created, and while Martino would like to rest his veteran figures, the team’s injury woes might prevent that from happening.

Robert Taylor and Serhiy Kryvstov are still recovering from their respective hamstring injuries and are expected to return to the mix later this month or in early May, while Federico Redondo remains out with a knee problem.

Leo Campana was substituted out of the first half of Miami’s draw against Colorado with a knock, and his status for the clash vs SKC remains up in the air.

Inter Miami predicted lineup vs Sporting Kansas City (4-3-3): Callender; Ruiz, Aviles, Freire, Negri; Gressel, Busquets, Gomez; Borgelin, Suarez, Afonso.

Kansas City’s Johnny Russell has been out of action since March 16 with a hamstring injury, and the 34-year-old is expected to return to action later this month.

Khiry Shelton and Logan Ndenbe will also miss the contest, as the former is recovering from an ankle injury while the latter is still sidelined after suffering a torn ACL in MLS Cup playoffs action last November.

Sporting Kansas City predicted lineup vs Inter Miami (4-2-3-1): Melia; Davis, Rosero, Voloder, Leibold; Walter, Radoja; Thommy, Pulido, Salloi; Agada.

Despite Miami’s star-studded squad, SKC just might go into this one as favorites given they’ll be playing at a much larger stadium with most of their squad steering clear from injuries. Miami can’t really say the same as they’re dealing with plenty of injuries in their camp.

It’ll be a back and forth affair between the two teams, with Sporting KC taking the lead in the second half before Messi comes off the bench to grab a late goal and seal a point for the Herons.

Prediction: Sporting Kansas City 2-2 Inter Miami