Inter Miami preseason: Suarez and Messi reunion kicks off

Inter Miami's preseason opener against El Salvador ended in a 0-0 draw, with Messi and Suarez starting for the team.

Inter Miami's much-anticipated preseason trip got off to an unexpectedly low-key start with a 0-0 draw against El Salvador. Despite the lack of goals, the first game of the year's preseason saw a solid starting eleven for the Herons, with Tata Martino making headlines by starting all four former Barcelona players.

The two-man attack of Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, along with goalkeeper Drake Callender, made for an exciting lineup. The five-man backline and the midfield trio of Gregore, Sergio Busquets, and Benjamin Cremaschi provided a strong foundation for the team.

While the match may not have been the high-flying start that many were hoping for, the first chapter of Miami's 2024 tale was a success, with each ex-Barca player making it to their scheduled halftime replacements uninjured.

The first half saw several thrilling moments, with Messi and Jordi Alba having good scoring opportunities that were thwarted by El Salvador's goalkeeper. The home team also had scoring opportunities, opting for a more direct approach and aiming to counter-attack Miami.

The second half saw a number of players make their debuts for the 2024 preseason, but also saw the loss of a promising player, Facundo Farias, to a potential knee injury. A disagreement in the middle of the field led to yellow cards for Gregore and Darwin Ceren, heating up the game, and ultimately leading to Farias being stretchered off after a challenge from Ceren.

Despite the lack of goals, Inter Miami played the last fifteen minutes with 10 players after using all of their substitutes.

The crowd at Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador showed their excitement for Messi, and the team will continue their preseason tour with matches in Texas, Riyadh, Hong Kong, and Tokyo before returning to South Florida for the final match.

The players kicked off the 2024 preseason with custom jerseys featuring the Inter Miami CF Foundation logo, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.