Inter Miami vs. NYCFC 2023 MLS Odds, Time, and Prediction

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Lionel Messi missed Inter Miami’s last two games and we saw that the Herons really need him. They drew 1-1 with Orlando City in the MLS, followed by a 2-1 loss in the US Open Cup final to Houston Dynamo. He’s expected to come back on September 30 against NYCFC in a game that’s super-important for both teams.

The boys from New York are sitting in the last available playoff spot at the moment, with five points more than Inter Miami. However, the Herons have two games in hand, which means that if they win on Saturday, their chance of making the playoffs will skyrocket.

Inter Miami vs. NYCFC Odds

*Odds taken from bet365 on Thursday, September 28.

When, Where, and How to Watch?

• Place: DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (Miami), Florida
• Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023
• Time: 7:30 PM ET
• How to Watch: Apple TV

A Must-Win Game for Inter Miami

Inter Miami’s playoff future is in their hands. If the Herons win their five remaining games of the regular season, they’re going to book a spot in the postseason. So, can they actually do it?

The answer is yes, but only if Lionel Messi is healthy. The best player in the history of soccer missed two previous games, each of which Inter Miami failed to win. According to coach Martino, Messi is struggling with an old muscle injury, but is on a day-to-day basis and could return on Saturday.

The coach also pointed out that not just Messi but all of his players are jaded due to a tight schedule. Unlike most other teams, the Herons have been playing two games a week, while some of their key men also had to fulfill their national team duties earlier this month.

New York City FC is a Force to be Reckoned With

NYCFC is in great form with two straight wins in the MLS, the result of which is that this team has moved up to the No. 9 position in the East. It’s actually strange that the New Yorkers are struggling to book the ticket to the postseason given that this team has a pretty good roster.

The evidence of this is that just two years ago, New York City FC was the team that won the MLS Cup. Many of the players from the title-winning generation are still on the team, meaning that they’re a force to be reckoned with.

There are, however, some things going against them ahead of the Inter Miami duel on Saturday. First of all, they’re in trouble if Messi returns. Secondly, even if he doesn’t make a comeback, they’re likely to struggle because the game is played on Inter Miami’s turf. The last time they played there they lost 3-2. Plus, this season they’ve been dreadful on the road, winning just one of their 15 away games in the MLS.

Inter Miami vs. NYCFC Prediction

Inter Miami’s plan is to get to the spot that’s currently occupied by NYCFC. The way to do it is to beat the New Yorkers on Saturday. With Messi on the field, they should have no problems doing it, but the question is whether he’s ready to come back.

We think he will return, but he probably won’t play for the full 90 minutes, which in turn, will make this game more interesting than what the MLS odds suggest. Nevertheless, we think the Herons will win. It won’t be easy, but they’ll do it.

Pick: Inter Miami to win and over 2.5 goals

Jessie is our resident sports specialist with over 4 years of experience in sports journalism. She's worked with several prominent online sports news outlets in the past and has accrued specialist insight across a wide range of sports markets. Combined with her own love and excitement of sports, having competed at a national level during college, she aims to improve sports coverage value for our readers at GamblingNews.