Nu Stadium

Inter Miami v Atlanta United MLS preview

Inter Miami will look to build on their emphatic 7-1 win over CF Montreal when they welcome Atlanta United to Nu Stadium on Saturday night.

The Herons remain second in the Eastern Conference, while Atlanta sit 13th and four points outside the playoff places after their three-game winning run was ended by Charlotte FC last weekend.

Inter Miami finally rediscovered their best form last weekend as they put seven goals past Montreal to end a five-match winless run across all competitions.

Lionel Messi was at the centre of the performance, scoring four goals and providing an assist as the Herons produced one of their most impressive displays of the campaign. Messi’s haul also saw him move to the top of the MLS scoring charts with 18 goals.

Atlanta’s playoff hopes suffered a setback last weekend when their three-match winning streak came to an end with a 2-0 defeat to Charlotte.

The Five Stripes remain 13th in the Eastern Conference and four points below the playoff line, although they have already surpassed their total of five regular-season victories from 2025.

Their biggest problem has been in front of goal. Atlanta have scored only 25 times this season, the second-lowest total in MLS, and just 10 of those goals have come away from home.

They have also conceded in every MLS away match in 2026, including eight goals across their last three road games.

Inter Miami v Atlanta United MLS team news

Inter Miami could be without Sergio Reguilon, Santiago Morales, Micael and Gonzalo Lujan due to lower-body injuries.

Mateo Silvetti is also recovering from a dislocated shoulder, while Tadeo Allende is dealing with a knee problem. Current injury listings also have the latter group expected to remain unavailable for this fixture.

Messi is expected to lead the Miami attack after his four-goal performance against Montreal.

Luis Suarez, Casemiro and Alexander Shaw also found the net last weekend, with Casemiro scoring his first goal for the club.

Atlanta have fewer concerns, although Ajani Fortune remains a doubt with a hamstring problem and Luke Brennan is sidelined with an ankle injury.

Mauricio Amaro could make his Atlanta debut after receiving his visa, while Breel Embolo is unlikely to have his paperwork completed in time.

Inter Miami v Atlanta United predicted line ups

Inter Miami: St. Clair; Fray, Caicedo, Falcon, Allen; De Paul, Casemiro, Segovia; Messi, Berterame, Suarez

Atlanta United: Hoyos; Jacob, Diaz, Alonso, Edwards; Sanchez, Muyumba, Reilly; Santos; Picault, Almiron

Inter Miami v Atlanta United stats, MLS form

• Following a run of two defeats and a draw between September 2023 and September 2024, Inter Miami won both regular-season editions of the fixture in 2025 (2-1 away, 4-0 at home)
• In between, Atlanta knocked Inter Miami out of the playoffs in the first round in 2024, losing the opening game 2-1 and winning the decider 3-2 away either side of a 2-1 victory in Miami
• Before that 4-0 win for Miami in their most recent meeting, both teams had scored in each of the seven encounters between the teams, spanning September 2023 until March 2025
• Since the first-ever meeting between the sides at Miami in September 2000, these teams have met 18 times without sharing a 0-0 draw
• The teams have two wins each across their last four meetings in Miami, averaging four goals per match across those games
• With seven goals, Lionel Messi has three more in the fixture than any player to have only represented one of the teams in their head-to-head history
• Messi’s haul of 18 MLS goals this season put him two clear of the next-highest scorer – Dallas’ Petar Musa – before the latest round of games,
• Josef Martinez, who played for Atlanta between 2017 and 2022 and Miami in 2023, scored six times in the fixture
• Before the start of the matchday, Miami’s total of 140 attempts on target in the MLS this season was five more than any other side, although five teams have bettered their accuracy of 40.8%
• Atlanta’s total of 25 MLS goals this season was the fewest of any team apart from Seattle and Kansas City, although their expected goals tally is 30.83

Where to watch Miami v Atlanta: TV channel, live online streams

Kick-off on Saturday is at 19:30 ET (16:30 PT / 00:30 on Sunday BST), with live coverage available through Apple TV.

In the US, a subscription costs $12.99 a month or $99.99 a year. Those prices are £8.99 a month or £89.99 a year in the UK. A seven-day free trial is available.

Inter Miami v Atlanta prediction

Inter Miami’s 7-1 demolition of Montreal was a timely reminder of the attacking quality available to them, and Messi looks to be in particularly good form heading into this fixture.