After opening the preseason program with a 0-0 draw with the El Salvador national team on Friday, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will return to the United States on Monday for a friendly against fellow MLS side FC Dallas at the Cotton Bowl.
Inter Miami’s pre-season schedule is packed with a string of matches around the world, but this one will be played at home before heading to games in Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan.
Minute management for Messi and his aging stars will be a topic for Gerardo “Tata” Martino and Inter Miami throughout the season, so it’s only fitting that it will be heavily discussed in pre-season as well. Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and new signing Luis Suarez all played 45 minutes against El Salvador just three days ago, it remains to be seen how much they will be involved here in Dallas.
Team news
The 2024 pre-season kicked off on Friday with Lionel Messi part of Inter Miami’s squad, joining aging stars Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and new signing Luis Suarez. All four were withdrawn at half-time and played 45 minutes as they started the new campaign.
Having played a full half just three days ago, it remains to be seen whether those four will be restarted from the start or if they will come off the bench in the second half to log on for around 30 minutes before jetting off to the rest. of their long and complicated international pre-season tour.
Goaltender Drake Callender was with the U.S. national team playing Slovenia in nearby San Antonio over the weekend, so it’s possible he’ll make the short trip across Texas to join his club teammates for the game.
Inter Miami Possible starting lineup (5-3-2): Callender (GK) — Taylor, McVey, Aviles, Sailor, Alba — Ruiz, Busquets, Cremaschi — Messi, Campana.
FC Dallas Possible starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Paes (GK) — Twumasi, Ibeagha, O. Gonzalez, Junqua — Lletget, Illarremendi — Kamungo, Pomykal, Arriola — Ferreira.
Leave a comment