FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Lionel Messi and Inter Miami have their backs against the wall if they plan to further advance in the Concacaf Champions Cup tournament.
Inter Miami will host Los Angeles FC on Wednesday night at Chase Stadium in the second leg of their Champions Cup quarterfinal series – needing to overcome a 1-0 deficit in aggregate score to advance to the semifinals.
They also must do so without a World Cup champion: No, not Messi. He’s healthy and expected to play.
But Inter Miami will be without legendary midfielder Sergio Busquets – the 2010 World Cup champion from Spain who won’t play after picking up his second yellow card in the first leg in Los Angeles last Wednesday, an inherit suspension for the second leg.
It’s a good thing Inter Miami has another legendary midfielder.
Messi scored twice during Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw against Toronto FC on ‘Sunday Night Soccer’ earlier this week, but one goal was disallowed after he tripped a defender.
However, he was held scoreless in Los Angeles last Wednesday, failing to convert on three free-kick opportunities against LAFC in the first leg.
“Obviously, for great players like him, these kinds of matches are an extra motivation,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said of Messi, his former teammate, Tuesday. “I can imagine that he will try, as always, from his leadership position on the court, to contribute everything he has, not only to be able to contribute to the victory, but also to help his teammates to be able to do so.’
The Champions Cup is one of five trophies Messi and Inter Miami will compete for in 2025, but Inter Miami needs to score at least two goals and keep LAFC scoreless – among several possible outcomes – to advance. They trail after LAFC’s Nathan Ordaz, a 21-year-old homegrown talent, scored a goal in the 57th minute last week.
Inter Miami was eliminated by LIGA MX standout Monterrey in the quarterfinals last year, and have never reached the semifinal or final in the Champions Cup.
“It is the most beautiful thing about football, to be able to play this type of game, knowing that being able to get through this would be a historic event for the club to reach the Champions Cup semifinals in Concacaf for the first time in our history. So, in that sense, I think that rather than pressure, it’s excitement,” Mascherano said Tuesday.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. LAFC Champions Cup on TV, live stream?
The match will be available in English on FS1, and in Spanish via TUDN and ViX.
What time is Inter Miami vs. LAFC Champions Cup match?
The match begins at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT, 9 p.m. in Argentina).
Is Lionel Messi playing tomorrow?
Yes, Messi is expected to play for Inter Miami in the match.
Inter Miami vs. LAFC Champions Cup scoring scenarios
Inter Miami was scoreless on the road in last Wednesday’s first leg, failing to take advantage of the tournament’s “away goals” tiebreaker rule. Goals scored by the away club count as double in tiebreaking scenarios.
So, if LAFC scores a goal at Inter Miami on Wednesday, Inter Miami would need to score at least three goals to advance.
If the score is 1-1 at the end of regulation, both teams would play two 15-minute periods of extra time and a penalty shootout if necessary.
Here’s a breakdown of how the scores in Wednesday’s match will affect the series:
How are MLS teams doing in Champions Cup?
Major League Soccer has four teams remaining in the Champions Cup: Inter Miami, Los Angeles FC, reigning MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
On Tuesday night: The Galaxy will visit Tigres in Monterrey (9 p.m. ET on FS1), after a scoreless draw at home in the first leg. Liga MX’s Club America and Cruz Azul will settle their scoreless quarterfinal at 11:30 p.m. ET on FS1).
After Inter Miami-LAFC, Vancouver will visit Pumas on Wednesday in Mexico City (10:30 p.m. ET on FS1), following a 1-1 draw in the first leg last week.
Inter Miami/LAFC would meet the Vancouver/Pumas winner in the semifinal, while Galaxy/Tigres will see America/Cruz Azul.
Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule
Wednesday: Inter Miami vs. LAFC, 8 p.m. ET (Concacaf Champions Cup)
April 13: Chicago vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. ET (MLS)
April 19: Columbus vs. Inter Miami, 4:30 p.m. ET (MLS)
April 26: Inter Miami vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS)