Inter Miami will play for a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals this Saturday, November 8, when they host Nashville SC at Chase Stadium at 22:00 in the third and decisive match of the first round of the 2025 MLS playoffs.
The "Herons" are obligated to win after losing the second leg and face a true final in their goal of overcoming last year's elimination and reaching, for the first time, the conference semifinals.
Lionel Messi's team opened the series with a 3-1 win in Miami on October 24, with a brace from the Argentine, but Nashville responded at home with a 2-1 victory to tie the series.
Recent history favors Inter Miami, with six wins in the last seven encounters against the "Coyotes," although this time they will not be able to count on Luis Suárez, who is suspended for his harsh tackle in the last duel.
Inter closed the regular season with 19 wins, 8 draws, and 7 defeats, totaling 65 points and third place in the East.
If they tie again, the winner will be decided by penalties.
The match could also mark the farewell of two key players: Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have announced they will retire at the end of the season, so if Inter Miami is eliminated, this would be their last professional match.
Inter Miami – Nashville: facts and probable lineups
Major League Soccer. Eastern Conference (First round). Stadium: Chase Stadium. Referee: To be appointed. Time: 22:00 – TV: Apple TV.
Inter Miami: Rocco Ríos Novo; Ian Fray, Maximiliano Falcón, Noah Allen, Jordi Alba; Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Sergio Busquets, Baltasar Rodríguez or Telasco Segovia; Lionel Messi and Tadeo Allende or Mateo Silvetti.
Nashville finished sixth with 54 units after 16 wins, 6 draws, and 12 losses.
In this Round 1, each team won one match.
Manager: Javier Mascherano.
Nashville: Joe Willis; Josh Bauer, Walker Zimmerman, Jeisson Palacios, Andy Najar; Matthew Corcoran, Edvard Sandvik Tagseth, Patrick Yazbeck; Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge, and Jacob Shaffelburg.
Manager: B. J. Callaghan.
