On the morning of August 4, Inter Miami found themselves without key players as they had progressed to the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup. Unfortunately, they were defeated by Tigres UANL with a score of 1-2, resulting in them finishing second in the group. On the bright side, coach Tata Martino shared the exciting news that Messi’s return was on the horizon.
The team traveled to Texas to face off against Tigres UANL but were missing stars like Messi, who was recovering from an injury, and Suarez, who was given a well-deserved rest. Busquets only made an appearance in the 69th minute, coming off the bench in the second half. This match also saw veteran defender Jordi Alba taking the field before being substituted.
Jordi Alba takes charge for Inter Miami as they face Tigres UANL without Messi and Suarez, with Busquets coming off the bench
The lineup changes at Inter Miami proved challenging against Tigres UANL, falling behind 1-0 in the 17th minute with Juan Brunetta finding the net for the Mexican side.
However, in the second half, David Beckham’s team started creating numerous dangerous chances. They managed to level the score at 1-1 in the 73rd minute thanks to a penalty kick converted by striker Leonardo Campana.
Despite seeming destined for a draw, Juan Vigon scored in the 83rd minute to secure a 2-1 victory for Tigres UANL, putting them at the top of the table with 6 points from 2 wins. Inter Miami finished second in the group, both teams securing spots in the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup.
In the round of 32, Inter Miami will face the 6th-placed team from the Eastern Conference, likely Pachuca (Mexico) or Toronto FC (Canada) on August 10. Playing at their home ground, Chase Stadium, Inter Miami will have a significant advantage as they aim to progress to the round of 16.
Messi is on the road to recovery as coach Tata Martino shared positive news about the Argentine player’s progress. The 37-year-old is soon to return to training and competition as he has reached an important stage in fully recovering from his ankle injury. With Messi no longer needing protection on his leg, the team is hopeful for his presence in the upcoming Leagues Cup knockout matches.
Coach Tata Martino emphasized that there is no rush to push Messi back into matches this week, as he continues with physical therapy under specialist care. The team is looking forward to Messi resuming normal training next week, with high hopes for his participation in the Leagues Cup. Inter Miami’s current focus is on defending their championship title, with the final set for August 26 if they advance past the upcoming knockout matches.
