Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will aim to extend their unbeaten streak to six matches when they welcome the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
New York is riding a six-match unbeaten streak of its own — the longest in a single season for the club since 2021.
Miami (6-2-3, 21 points), first in the Eastern Conference table, enters the match following a 4-1 road victory against the New England Revolution last weekend. Miami has not lost in league play since falling 4-0 to the Red Bulls on the road March 23.
“I think it’s time for us to show them how good we really are,” Miami midfielder Robert Taylor said. “When we went there, we were not ourselves at all. I think now it’s kind of redemption for us.
“(Losses) always push us more. Last time we played them, we got embarrassed by them, so we want to make sure that doesn’t happen, and we take the three points this time.”
On Thursday, Messi was named the MLS Player of the Month for April after the Argentine star registered six goals and four assists in four appearances last month.
Messi made MLS history last weekend with his brace and assist, breaking the record for the most goal contributions in a player’s first seven games to start the season. He also became the first player in MLS history to register multiple goal contributions in five straight matches.
The Red Bulls (4-1-5, 17 points), third in the Eastern Conference, will look to improve on their 6-3-0 regular-season record against Miami. The Red Bulls are 3-1-0 in Miami and have points in five of six away matches this season.
“They’re a team with high quality, especially with Lionel Messi as a striker or winger in the half-space between the lines, so we have to defend very strong,” Red Bulls coach Sandro Schwarz said.
“In the first game, the home game with our supporters against Miami, the transition moments were very good. We need the same structure and the same transition moments on Saturday.”
Midfielder Lewis Morgan leads New York with seven goals this season, while forward Dante Vanzeir leads the team in assists with six.
–Field Level Media