Inter Miami v Nashville: Line-ups, stats and preview
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Inter Miami v Nashville match preview
An end to Inter Miami’s run of conceding in their last eight games against Nashville would go a long way towards the Herons avoiding defeat at the first hurdle for a second successive season in the MLS playoffs.
The Herons return to the Chase Stadium, where they won the first game of the best-of-three tie 3-1, after a 2-1 away defeat on Saturday.
“The problem is the defending of the whole team, because we all defend and we all attack,” said midfielder Telasco Segovia.
“We’ve had some issues that, in the end, we didn’t pay too dearly for. We know Saturday is an important game and we literally can’t make any mistakes because Nashville have some very good players.
“They are an intense team who group together very well when defending. They have very good players [in attack] and their wingers are fast.
“Those are their strongest points but they have many weaknesses when it comes to quick transitions. We have to take advantage of that.”
Leaning into the intensity 👊💥 pic.twitter.com/ma5eUwN725— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) November 3, 2025
Two goals by Lionel Messi and one from Tadeo Allende meant Hany Mukhtar’s reply was only a consolation when Miami took the lead in the playoff, but Sam Surridge and Josh Bauer put Nashville 2-0 ahead at half-time before Messi scored in the 90th minute at Geodis Park.
“It’s a lot of doing the same,” Nashville boss BJ Callaghan said of the decider. “There are things we’re going to need to clean up, for sure.
“In terms of pressure on the ball, getting numbers around the ball and competing for second balls, that’s something that has to be a foundational piece for us.”
Messi has 32 goals in the 2025 MLS. “Elite players are going to find ways,” said Callaghan. “They’re going to continuously find solutions and it’s up to us to work collectively to stop it.
“You’re not ever thinking that you’re going to completely neutralize him, but you have to be able to neutralize some of the things they’re trying to do.”
Lucho 🤝 Leo 🎨 pic.twitter.com/DeXsI7Uq1l— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) November 4, 2025
Inter Miami v Nashville team news
Miami forward Luis Suarez has received a one-game retrospective ban for kicking out at Nashville defender Andy Najar in the 71st minute of the second match.
Midfielder David Ruiz has a hamstring injury.
Nashville are without Wyatt Meyer, Julian Gaines, Jonny Perez and Tyler Washington through injury but defender Daniel Lovitz could return from an ankle issue.
Messi was the only player to eclipse English striker Surridge’s total of 24 goals during the regular MLS campaign.
Inter Miami v Nashville expected line-ups
Nashville: Joe Willis, Jeisson Palacios, Josh Bauer, Walker Zimmerman, Andy Najar, Patrick Yazbek, Hany Mukhtar, Matthew Corcoran, Alex Muyl, Eddi Tagseth, Sam Surridge
Inter Miami: Rocco Rios-Novo, Ian Fray, Jordi Alba, Noah Allen, Maximiliano Falcon, Sergio Busquets, Rodrigo De Paul, Baltasar Rodriguez, Tadeo Allende, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi
Intense 💪
Relentless 🚂
Brilliant ✨ pic.twitter.com/g4bxmbNnFy— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) November 2, 2025
How to watch Miami v Nashville: Live stream, TV channel
Kick-off on Saturday is at 20:00 ET (17:00 PT / 01:00 on Sunday GMT), with live coverage available through the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.
In the US, a subscription costs $14.99 a month or $69 a season. Existing Apple TV+ subscribers pay $12.99 per month or $59 a season.
Inter Miami v Nashville stats
- Miami are yet to progress beyond the first round of the playoffs in three previous attempts
- They have nine wins to Nashville’s five in the 19 meetings between the teams
- Javier Mascherano’s team have six wins, two draws and a loss in their previous nine visits from Nashville, remaining undefeated in the past six (5W 1D)
- Rodrigo De Paul’s assist for Messi’s goal in the second game was his fifth since joining Miami in July
- Messi has seven goals in Miami’s last four home games against Nashville, scoring twice in each of the last three
- Bauer, who has a career-high four goals this season across all competitions, is the first defender in Nashville history to score in the playoffs
- Surridge’s 31 goals in a single season is a club record
- Callaghan is now targeting his second win in the playoffs as a coach
- At 19 years, eight months and 14 days of age, Matthew Corcoran became the youngest player and first teenager in Nashville history to start a playoff match
- Goalkeeper Joe Willis, center-back Walker Zimmerman and midfielder Mukhtar have appeared in all 10 of Nashville’s playoff
- The winners of this tie will play FC Cincinnati or Columbus Crew in the semi-finals
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