Nashville vs Inter Miami: Lionel Messi aims to guide Miami to maiden trophy

Lionel Messi and his former Barcelona teammates have a chance to win Inter Miami's first-ever silverware against Nashville.

Nashville and Inter Miami are set to face off in a historic match that could potentially see either team win their first-ever silverware. Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi and his former Barcelona teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, have quickly made an impact since joining the club less than a month ago. On the other hand, Nashville, established just a year before Miami, has also shown promise and could pose a tough challenge.

The current MLS season has been a struggle for Inter Miami, as they currently sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table. This led to the sacking of head coach Phil Neville, who was replaced by Gerardo Martino. Martino's reunion with Messi, Busquets, and Alba has rejuvenated the team and they have quickly become a formidable force. In contrast, Nashville is performing well, currently sitting in 4th place in the league table. Despite a shaky start in the Leagues Cup, they have shown resilience and are expected to give Miami a tough competition.

Both Inter Miami and Nashville are relatively new teams in the MLS, with Nashville being established in 2017 and Miami in 2018. Neither team has won any silverware yet, making this match even more significant. Nashville's journey in the Leagues Cup has been remarkable, overcoming doubts about their progression from the group stage. They have managed to secure victories through penalty shootouts in the round of 32 and round of 16 matches. However, they have turned things around with two consecutive clean sheet wins leading up to the final.

Nashville boasts a few star players of their own, including Sam Surridge, who joined the team from Bournemouth last season. Surridge has made an immediate impact, scoring three goals in the three matches he has appeared in. Hany Mukhtar is another key player for Nashville, with an impressive 65 goals to his name. Miami's defense has shown vulnerabilities in the past, and Nashville's coach will likely look to exploit this by fielding both Mukhtar and Surridge. Meanwhile, Walker Zimmerman, a member of the US Men's National Team, will lead Nashville's defense line.

Inter Miami's MLS campaign this season has been lackluster, but the arrival of Messi and his Barcelona teammates has completely transformed the team. With the exception of their round-of-16 match against FC Dallas, which went into a penalty shootout, they have emerged victorious in every Leagues Cup match. They have also scored an incredible 22 goals throughout the competition, surpassing their entire MLS goal tally prior to Messi's arrival.

Since Messi, Busquets, and Alba became regular starters, Inter Miami has found a winning formula. They have only lost one match in the Leagues Cup since Messi's debut, and that was the draw against FC Dallas in the round of 16. However, they ultimately secured the win in the penalty shootout. With a lineup that has proven successful, coach Martino is unlikely to make any significant changes for the final match.

In conclusion, the upcoming match between Nashville and Inter Miami holds great significance for both teams. With the opportunity to win their first-ever silverware, both teams will be eager to emerge victorious. Inter Miami, with their newfound star power in Messi, Busquets, and Alba, will be looking to continue their impressive run in the Leagues Cup. On the other hand, Nashville, with their resilient performances and talented players, will be determined to stop Miami's dominance and claim the title for themselves.