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.
MORE: Where does Messi rank in the all-time international assist leaders?
Atlanta United vs Inter Miami match facts
- Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
- Kickoff Time: 5 p.m. ET / 10 p.m. BST / 7 a.m. AEST (Sun, Sep. 17)
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)
- Official: Jair Marrufo
- Last meeting: Inter Miami 4-0 Atlanta United (Jul. 25, 2023 | Leagues Cup)
Atlanta United vs Inter Miami prediction, odds
- Moneyline lean: Inter Miami (+155)
- Score prediction: Atlanta United 1-3 Inter Miami
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.
| Atlanta Utd win |
Draw | Inter Miami win |
Both teams to score Y / N |
Over / Under 3.5 goals |
ATL -0.5 |
MIA +0.5 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) |
+138 | +280 | +155 | -225 / +160 | +110 / -160 | +130 | -185 |
| Sports Interaction (Canada) |
+152 | +275 | +139 | -256 / +155 | +112 / -156 | +141 | -189 |
| BetOnSports (UK) |
31/20 | 11/4 | 8/5 | 2/5, 7/4 | 11/10, 4/6 | 7/5 | 4/7 |
| Unibet (Australia) |
2.40 | 3.85 | 3.55 | 1.48 / 2.60 | 2.25 / 1.63 | — | — |
| Dafabet (India) |
2.50 | 3.85 | 2.55 | 1.44 / 2.75 | — | — | — |
Atlanta United vs Inter Miami: best bet
- Pick: Over 3.5 goals
- Odds: +110 (BetMGM)
During the international break, Inter Miami won a barnburner against Sporting KC by a 3-2 score, with Leonardo Campana showing Ecuador what they were missing by not calling him up. With Josef Martinez faltering, Miami seem to now have an in-form striker to go alongside Messi in the attack, while Facundo Farias has also enjoyed the start to his time at the club as well.
Atlanta United are also in good attacking form since the heavy Leagues Cup defeat to Miami, with Almada and Giakoumakis building a strong relationship. Goals will flow in this game, as both teams punish mistakes by the opposition.
Atlanta United vs Inter Miami prop bet
- Pick: Lionel Messi anytime goalscorer
- Odds: -135 (BetMGM)
The value on Messi to score for Inter Miami isn’t always there, but everything in this match screams a big performance from the Argentine.
First of all, Messi being rested in the La Paz altitude was a best-case scenario for Inter Miami, as they get their star back in full health without having heavily exerted himself in a difficult environment. Messi logged a brace last time out against Atlanta United, and he also found the back of the net in his last match for Argentina against Ecuador.
Having failed to score in each of his previous two MLS appearances, keeping Messi down for long isn’t an option, and he gets back to business here in a victory.