Inter Miami Looks to Stay Hot Against Charlotte FC in Early-Season Clash

Inter Miami Aims to Extend Unbeaten Streak Against Charlotte FC

Inter Miami has started the 2025 MLS season in strong form and will look to stay unbeaten when it hosts Charlotte FC on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Miami (1-0-1, 4 points) has been balancing MLS play with its CONCACAF Champions Cup campaign, yet momentum is fully on its side after two straight victories. Charlotte (1-0-1, 4 points) is also coming off a confidence-boosting win over Atlanta United, setting up a clash between two Eastern Conference contenders looking to assert early dominance.

Inter Miami’s Strong Start: Suarez Leading the Way

Inter Miami has been firing on all cylinders to open the season, scoring six goals across its first two MLS matches while also securing a 2-0 win over Jamaican club Cavalier in the Champions Cup on Thursday.

The biggest question mark, as always, is Lionel Messi’s availability. Messi missed Miami’s last two matches due to muscle fatigue, and while there’s no injury, his status for Sunday remains uncertain.

Head coach Javier Mascherano addressed Messi’s absence after Thursday’s win over Cavalier.

“The medical team has told me he has no injury. He has (muscle) fatigue from having played three games in six days, the change of climates, and a lot of situations,” Mascherano said.

Even without Messi, Luis Suárez has stepped up as Miami’s primary offensive force. The veteran striker has been in vintage form, tallying two goals and three assists in the past two games, including a goal against Cavalier.

Charlotte FC Riding High After Statement Win

Charlotte FC made headlines last week with an impressive 2-0 victory over Atlanta United, widely seen as an MLS Cup contender this season.

New signing Wilfried Zaha stole the show, scoring a goal and adding an assist in his MLS debut. The 32-year-old Ivory Coast international has already become a fan favorite, with thousands of Charlotte fans sporting his No. 10 jersey at Bank of America Stadium.

“It was just joy, and being able to repay the hype,” Zaha said. “The lads believe in me. … And hopefully after this goal, everyone else will.”

Midfielder Pep Biel also found the net, showing Charlotte has multiple attacking threats that could cause problems for Miami’s defense.

Key Players to Watch

Inter Miami

Luis Suárez – Already leading Miami in goal contributions, he remains the focal point of the attack, especially if Messi sits out.
Sergio Busquets – The veteran midfielder continues to dictate the tempo, bringing stability to Miami’s buildup play.
Jordi Alba – Provides attacking width and defensive experience in key moments.

Charlotte FC

Wilfried Zaha – Charlotte’s marquee signing, looking to build on his strong debut performance.
Pep Biel – Creative force in the midfield, capable of both scoring and setting up goals.
Roman Bürki – One of the league’s best goalkeepers, capable of keeping Charlotte in games with clutch saves.

Match Outlook: What’s at Stake?

Both teams enter this match tied in the standings with four points and eager to separate themselves in the early Eastern Conference race.

For Inter Miami, a win would keep the momentum rolling across all competitions while reinforcing their ability to win even without Messi. Charlotte, on the other hand, is looking to prove that its win over Atlanta wasn’t a fluke and that it can compete with the best teams in the East.

Keys to the Game

For Inter Miami:

Suárez must continue his goal-scoring form. Without Messi, Miami needs another dominant performance from its star striker.
Defensive discipline is crucial. Charlotte is dangerous on the counterattack, and Miami can’t afford to be caught out of position.
Control possession. With Busquets leading the midfield, Miami needs to dictate the game and force Charlotte to chase.

For Charlotte FC:

Zaha needs another big performance. His pace and creativity could be the key to unlocking Miami’s defense.
Stay compact defensively. Charlotte can’t allow Miami’s experienced attack too much space.
Capitalize on set pieces. With Bürki in goal, they should look to create opportunities from free kicks and corners.

Final Prediction

Inter Miami has been red-hot offensively, and even without Messi, Suárez has been more than capable of leading the charge. Charlotte’s defense has looked solid, but they haven’t faced an attack as dangerous as Miami’s yet.

With home-field advantage and momentum, Inter Miami should edge out a hard-fought win.

Prediction: Inter Miami 2, Charlotte FC 1.

Inter Miami Cf vs Charlotte Fc Picks and Predictions March 9th 2025