Inter Miami Visits New York Red Bulls Ahead of MLS Playoffs
Inter Miami travels to face the New York Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The Eastern Conference fixture marks one of the final four regular-season matches for the Florida franchise before the MLS playoffs begin. The match will be televised by Apple TV.
Lionel Messi is expected to be available for the fixture after traveling to Spain on Friday to receive the Princess of Asturias Award. Messi leads the league with 25 goals in 27 appearances this season alongside 15 asistencias, tying him at the top of the assist charts with Los Angeles FC player Son Heung-Min, while his compatriot Rodrigo De Paul appears with 14. He also became the first footballer in MLS history to reach at least 15 assists in three consecutive seasons, and his 25 goals keep him at the front of the race for the Golden Boot, whose first tiebreaker criterion is assists. He has converted 8 goals in the last seven matches with Inter Miami.
Inter Miami Prepares for Knockout Stages
Inter Miami sits second in the Eastern Conference with 55 points from 30 matches, recording 15 wins, 10 draws, and 5 losses. The team has scored 73 goals while conceding 51. Despite winning their last three matches against D.C. United, New York City, and Atlanta United, Inter Miami can no longer win the Supporters’ Shield, which Nashville will win. The squad coached by Kily González prepares to arrive with a good level for the knockout stages to defend the champion title.
The New York Red Bulls occupy ninth place in the Eastern Conference with 36 points, registering 10 wins, 6 draws, and 14 losses with a -17 goal difference. The team enters Saturday’s match following a 4-1 victory over San Diego FC and consecutive losses: 1-2 against D.C. United and 0-2 against Toronto FC.
Upcoming MLS Playoff Schedule
The New York Red Bulls face two away commitments against New England and the leader Nashville, while playing their final home duel against Atlanta United.
The MLS postseason schedule features the wild-card play-in matches on November 18 between the eighth and ninth-place teams in each conference. Single-elimination conference semifinals and finals will follow at the home venue of the higher seed, leading up to the great final of the season with the conference winners on Saturday, December 19, at the stadium of the best-ranked team.
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