Following a positive international break in which Lionel Messi secured both an important goal and key rest, the Argentine returns to club action as Inter Miami visit Atlanta United.
Messi and eight other Inter Miami players participated in international football during the recent break, and all but one — Diego Gomez — returned fit for action.
Inter Miami are in a ferocious playoff chase, starting Messi's time with the club bottom of the Eastern Conference. They need to reach ninth, but have snatched 10 points off their past four games and are clearly a threat to reach the postseason.
Still, there's much work to be done, sitting 14th and still six points back of the final playoff spot. They'll need to keep focused as they meet an Atlanta United side that has been in good form after a 4-0 humbling in Messi's debut in the Leagues Cup.
Where does Messi rank in the all-time international assist leaders?
The Inter Miami betting hype train seems to have cooled considerably, but it's hard to figure out exactly why.
This very same Inter Miami side absolutely clobbered Atlanta United 4-0 in the Leagues Cup less than two months ago, and while the hosts are now in good form, there's not much that has changed from that day, which marked Lionel Messi's first start for the club. Messi will be set to go for this game, yet for some reason the two sides are considered about even on the three-way moneyline.
One thing is for certain, though, and that is that goals will be scored. Inter Miami held Thiago Almada and Georgios Giakoumakis in check last time they played, but since that game, Almada has picked up a goal contribution in four of five matches, and Giakoumakis has elevated himself into Golden Boot contention.
During the international
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