Inter Miami Gear Up for Leagues Cup Showdown with Tigres UANL
The Herons are back in action this weekend, taking on Liga MX giants Tigres UANL in a crucial Leagues Cup matchup at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Despite the absence of legendary forward Lionel Messi, who’s still recovering from an ankle injury, Inter Miami will look to build on their momentum from their opening win against Puebla.
Team News and Analysis
With Messi sidelined, Inter Miami’s manager Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino could opt to give some of his youngsters a chance to shine, or focus on securing a top spot in the group for seeding purposes. Whoever starts, they’ll face a stern test against a Tigres side known for their dominance in North America.
Here’s how Miami could line up against Tigres:
GK: Drake Callender – The experienced shot-stopper returns to the XI after an uninspiring performance from CJ dos Santos against Puebla.
RB: Marcelo Weigandt – ‘Chelo’ Weigandt keeps his place at right-back, with Ian Fray hoping to earn some minutes late on in the match.
CB: Tomas Aviles – The young defender is reinstated in the heart of defense after missing out against Puebla with a knock.
CB: Hector Martinez – Martinez is set to make his second appearance for Miami, allowing Sergio Busquets to return to his preferred position in the middle of the park.
LB: Jordi Alba – The former Spain international will hope to bag another assist like he did vs Puebla to propel Miami to victory.
CM: Federico Redondo – Redondo struggled against Puebla and will look to put in a much better performance against Tigres to keep his place in the team in the Round of 32.
CM: Sergio Busquets – The ex-Barcelona figure patrols the midfield once again after a brief stint helping out in the backline.
CM: Matias Rojas – The Paraguay international opened the scoring vs Puebla with a thundering strike and will look to put in a similar performance vs Tigres.
RW: Julian Gressel – Gressel has been in fine form as of late playing out wide as he’s able to tee up his teammates for scoring opportunities with his favored right foot.
ST: Luis Suarez – El Pistolero leads the line for the second-straight match, aiming to get on the scoresheet once again.
LW: Robert Taylor – Taylor has become such a key figure to Miami’s success over the last year or so, and Martino will look to rely on the 29-year-old winger to stretch the Tigres defense.
Call to Action
Don’t miss out on the excitement! Follow us on all social media platforms for more updates, analysis, and opinions on the world of football. Let’s get ready for what promises to be an electrifying encounter between Inter Miami and Tigres UANL!