Inter Miami v Cincinnati: Teams, Statistics, Previews, Predictions

Those craving more subplots around the ban given to Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba by MLS will find drama enhanced by enemy identity on Saturday.

Cincinnati is the top of the Eastern Conference and has a seven-point lead over Hergi, but they have three fewer games to play, and are the only side to beat Hergi in the last eight league matches for over two months, winning 3-0 on July 16th at TQL Stadium despite Messi’s involvement.

“We know that if we want to be competitive in all competitions, not just in MLS, we need to be very, very good,” manager Javier Mascherano said after a 5-1 victory on the New York Red Bulls side, which has one of the best home records in the division after a 5-1 victory last Saturday.

“Part of the reason (due to that defeat) may be that we’re tired, but Cincinnati was better than us.”

Cincinnati won six, lost one of their final seven games, scoring points to stand above Philadelphia at the summit, and Winger Caoleranos won 1–0 at Real Salt Lake thanks to a goal in the 87th minute.

Messi and Alba were suspended for the game Wednesday after missing an All-Star Game in Austin, but Cincinnati midfielder Evander captained the MLS team that won and scored eight goals in five games, including two against Miami.

“In a short time, you’ll go play again at their location, so I think they’ll motivate and they’ll improve from their initial performance,” said manager Pat Noonan.

“So it’s only going to be even more difficult to try and replicate what we can do in our place, and I understand that this will be a very difficult game.

“There’s certainly a lot to be had in the places where both teams are in the rankings and where we’re staying this year.”

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Intermiami v Cincinnati Team News

Messi is reportedly furious about the ban, and Maschelano must resolve ways to compensate for the loss of players directly involved in 25 of Miami’s 49 league goals in 2025.

No other Miami players have scored more than seven goals in MLS this season. Uruguay’s top scorer Luis Suarez played five league games without scoring, but three of the 38-year-old 10 league assists in 2025 came across those matches.

Alba was Miami’s defensive player of the year and also scored against the Red Bulls. The Defender Maximiliano Falcon is stopped because of accumulating yellow cards.

Multipurpose Greek Youth International Noah Allen and Ecuadorian outlook Allen Obando has doubts about the hamstring issue, but Racing Club DeAveraneda’s Launetivalta Sarr Rodriguez and goalkeeper Oscar Ustali have the same problem.

Goalkeeper Drake Calendar has returned to training after a hernia problem. Defender Ian Frey was injured during the Club World Cup.

Kevin Denki will not be able to add to 12 goals in the Cincinnati 21 MLS appearance this season, as the Togo forward suffers a leg injury.

Yuya Kubo suffers from ankle issues as part of her injury season, with fellow midfielder Obinna Nwobodo having a quad issue.

Nick Haglund has not been featured since maintaining two broken ribs and collapsed lungs in a collision with Atlanta’s Emmanuel Latte Lath on May 25, but the defender was an unused replacement in his victory in Miami.

Defenders Gilbert Flores and Deandre Idlin will face suspension if reserved.

Inter Miami v Cincinnati was hoping for the lineup

Starting XI Intermiami: Novo; Weigandt, Falcon, Aviles, Moralia; Segovia, Basket, Redondo, Arende. Picoll, Suarez

Cincinnati starts XI: Serentano; Frome, Robinson, Hadebe; Powell, Bucha, Anunga, Engel. Evangela; Baid, Valzela

How to watch Miami v Cincinnati: Live streams, TV channels

Saturday kickoff is 19:15 ET (16:15 PT on Saturday / 00:15 BST on Sunday) and live coverage is available through MLS Season Pass Apple TV+.

In the US, subscription costs $14.99 a month or $69 a season. Existing Apple TV+ subscribers pay $12.99 per month or $59 per season.

Intermiami v Cincinnati Statistics

• Intermiami has won six wins over five Cincinnati in fixture history
• Yedlin (2022-2024) and fellow defender Alvas Powell (2020) are former Miami players
• Miami’s total of 49 goals in the 2025 MLS is 10 higher than Cincinnati and 7 higher than any other team
• They scored four of the last five home games and four of the last three games, with Messi taking seven of the 15 goals midway, and Suarez scoring three
• Cincinnati lost one of four MLS meetings between teams, and Miami won three, losing one of five at home side, including a 2-0 victory through Suarez’s goal in 5024.
• Miami has recognized 8.4 xg in their last five league matches, averaging 1.7 overall.
• Only four players have been featured in MLS this season for more minutes than the 2,160 players accumulated by Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Serentano.
• Only Messi and Nashville’s Sam Salridge (both 18) have more goals in the 2025 MLS than Evander, who coincided with a total of 15 in six games last season.
• Evander’s eight assists means that only Messi and San Diego’s Andres Dreyer are making more goal contributions
• The 27-year-old became the first player in Cincinnati history, scoring in his fifth straight game against goals against Miami.
• Cincinnati has admitted a predicted goal (XG) of 1.1 or higher in one of their final seven games, beating Orlando City 2-1 in that game
• Orellano contributed directly to his goal in six of his last seven appearances
• Brazilian forward Sergio Santos made his 100th Cincinnati appearance against the real Salt Lake, becoming the 12th player in club history, reaching that total

Intermiami v Cincinnati Prediction

The intense assault by the Talisman by Cincinnati suggests that Miami will not improve the results without Messi, but Cincy will come back to try and win 2-1 with a hard time with their trip.

The hope for Miami may be that Maschelano is galvanized by fraud that feels like he’s been robbed of two players on a schedule called “crazy.”

“We must unite as one entity,” said Jorge Mas, co-owner of Miami through journalists. Guillem Balagueis a biographer of Messi.

“We are against the world and that must be reflected in our performances later this year.”