Inter Miami will face Orlando City on Sunday at Exploria Stadium in one of the team’s biggest challenges yet.
The Herons will be without star figures Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, after head coach Gerardo Martino confirmed the two suffered setbacks to previous injuries in the match against Toronto FC on Wednesday night. Though the former FC Barcelona players started the game, the two left the pitch before the halftime whistle.
Alba remained on the bench for the rest of the match, while Messi headed straight to the locker room.
“Leo is dealing with an old scar tissue (issue) and Jordi has muscular fatigue. We will evaluate them day by day. It’s bothersome [for Messi]. I don’t know if it hurts. I can’t really explain as it’s more a medical topic. It‘s probable it bothers him to the point, including mentally, that he isn’t able to play freely,” explained Martino.
Leonardo Campana will likely lead the team in the hopes of sealing three points and add to their postseason push.
Inter Miami predicted lineup vs Orlando City ( 4-3-3 )
GK: Drake Callender - No changes here.
RB: DeAndre Yedlin - The former captain will continue to play until the team find a replacement on the right.
CB: Tomas Aviles - The young defender looks set to get the start again. No real challengers on this one.
CB: Kamal Miller - The Herons' best and only option at center-back.
LB: Noah Allen - With Alba unavailable due to injury, Allen will take over as left back.
CM: Dixon Arroyo - One of Miami's most reliable players as of late.
CM: Sergio Busquets - Busquets will continue to start until he physically cannot. Though he didn't train with the team on Friday, he's still expected to start.
CM: Benjamin Cremaschi - Despite Martino's recent choice to bench the player, he'll have no choice but to give him a starting role against Orlando given certain absences.
RW: Facundo Farias - He's proven to be one of the team's biggest assets up front.
ST: Leonardo Campana - In the absence of Messi, Campana will take the starting role. Martino often opts with Leo as the starting striker when the World Cup champion is unavailable.
LW: Robert Taylor - He made an immediate impact against Toronto, and should earn the start given the injuries within the team.
