Don’t Miss This Clash: Atlanta Takes on Inter Miami – Insights, Predictions, and Team Updates!

Sports Mole sets the stage for Sunday’s Major League Soccer showdown between Atlanta United and Inter Miami, featuring predictions, team updates, and potential lineups. Atlanta United will welcome Inter Miami at the iconic Mercedes-Benz Stadium, rekindling their rivalry from the first round of the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs. Last week, the Five Stripes engaged in a goalless stalemate against the New York Red Bulls, while the Herons enjoyed a narrow 1-0 victory over Charlotte FC. After a promising start to the season with a 3-2 win over CF Montreal, Atlanta has struggled to find the net recently, going two matches without a goal— a feat already surpassing their longest drought from last season. It's been quite some time since they’ve failed to score in three consecutive league matches, last experiencing this during the 2021 MLS season. However, they have the chance to record back-to-back clean sheets at home, a milestone not seen in their previous campaigns. Since their entry into the league, the Five Stripes remain undefeated in March home fixtures, clinching all three encounters last year. Historically, they've also maintained an unbeaten run against Miami over the last six home games in MLS, including a memorable 2-1 victory in the playoff series last year. Javier Mascherano, in the early days of his managerial journey at Inter Miami, has adopted a cautious approach, ensuring that his star players are well-managed to avoid fatigue. The strategy has paid dividends, with the Herons currently on a five-match winning streak. They aim to achieve something unprecedented: winning their first two regular-season away games since joining the league in 2020. Their impressive away record includes just two losses this season, and they've managed to score in 23 consecutive league matches. The only time Miami triumphed in Atlanta was in 2020, securing a 2-1 victory with two quick-fire goals. For team news, Atlanta will be missing Ronald Hernandez and Jamal Thiare due to quad injuries, while Brooks Lennon is sidelined with a shoulder issue. Record signing Emmanuel Latte Lath remains a doubt following concussion protocols. For Miami, Marcelo Weigandt, Robert Taylor, and Fafa Picault are all out with hamstring injuries, and Oscar Ustari is suspended after a red card. Lionel Messi, having missed the last two MLS games, turned out for a substitute appearance in the recent CONCACAF Champions Cup, helping secure a 2-0 win. As predicted, this clash might see Atlanta struggle, so we forecast a triumphant return for Miami, picking a bold 3-0 victory. For further insights and analytics on likely outcomes and scorelines for this match, click here.