The path to the playoffs for Lionel Messi and Inter Miami hit a speed bump, and the road gets more difficult with a trip to face the defending champs up next. Ahead of MLS matchday 30, we look at LAFC vs. Inter Miami odds and Lionel Messi props, and offer a few predictions for Sunday night’s encounter.
Held scoreless for the first time in a nil-nil draw with Nashville on Wednesday, the Argentine superstar failed to score for only his second match since moving to the United States. Messi racked up 10 goals in the Leagues Cup, which Miami won, and added another in his MLS debut last week.
Up next is a trip to Los Angeles against the defending MLS Cup champions, who are favored on oddsboards at . Messi is expected to participate prior to heading to South America for FIFA World Cup qualification matches.
Odds for LAFC vs. Inter Miami MLS Match
Here are LAFC vs. Inter Miami betting lines found at the best sports betting apps, where Miami is priced as a slight money line underdog at , and the draw is :
LAFC Roster, Injuries, and Betting News
Los Angeles FC has had a quick rise from expansion team to MLS Cup champion in five years. With names like Will Ferrell, Magic Johnson, and legendary soccer player Mia Hamm among the club’s ownership group, the expectations have been high since the first day.
A centerpiece of LAFC’s success is Mexican star Carlos Vela, the club’s first signing. Over the years, other stars joined the club like Giorgio Chiellini or the now-retired Gareth Bale.
Former US men’s national team defender Steve Cherundulo is the head coach of LAFC and the man who led them to its first league title last November. Playing near downtown Los Angeles, next to the LA Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park, the club is backed by one of the loudest fanbases in MLS with the 3252 supporters group.
Roster
LAFC has one of the most talented rosters in the league with a potent frontline that features star scorers Denis Bouanga and Carlos Vela as wingers. Bouanga has scored goals in bunches since arriving last season and could be the type of player that offsets Messi’s output, though Vela still has moments where he can provide the spectacular.
FC Barcelona product Ilie Sanchez has been a key piece in midfield since his intra-league move from Sporting Kansas City. When U.S. men’s national team midfielder Kellyn Acosta is alongside the Spaniard, the LAFC midfield is a tough one to combat.
Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini is a voice of experience in the backline behind regular starters in U.S. defender Aaron Long and Honduran international Denil Maldonado. In goal, John McCarthy has been solid since taking over in the final but Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau has been coming back to health to up the competitive edge.
Injuries
Out: None
Inter Miami Leagues Cup Roster, Injuries & Betting News
Former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to its first championship in this summer’s Leagues Cup and has the club one win away from winning a second title by way of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. It’s the type of situation the David Beckham-owned club wanted to be in instead of the difficult start they had prior to Messi’s arrival.
Of course, the Argentine isn’t the only former Barcelona star to arrive as former teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have been part of the summer reinforcements. To round out the package, Messi’s former Barcelona and Argentina manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino was brought in to replace former head coach, and ex-Manchester United great, Phil Neville.
Martino had prior success in MLS by winning the 2018 MLS Cup with Atlanta United. Additionally, the club has complemented the roster with an additional $15.5 million spent on young South American players like Facundo Farias and Tomás “Toto” Avilés.
Roster
Inter Miami has in its ranks former MLS Golden Boot winner Josef Martinez, part of Martino’s Atlanta squad a few years back. Leonardo Campana was one of Miami’s top goal-generators last season and both are starting to regain their best form.
Other forwards like Robert Taylor, Benjamin Cremaschi, and David Ruiz have become additional threats with Messi’s arrival. So much so that all of these forwards have been called up by their respective national teams for the upcoming round of FIFA international matches.
Miami’s defense features MLS veterans like Canada’s Kamal Miller and U.S. right-back DeAndre Yedlin. Rising goalkeeper Drake Callender was a hero in the Leagues Cup final and has risen on the U.S. national team picture as well.
Injuries
Out: Gregore (Lisfranc), Franco Negri (ACL), Corentin Jean (ACL), Ian Fray (ACL)
Lionel Messi Goalscorer Props + More LAFC vs. Inter Miami Wagering Options
Below is a sampling of props for Sunday’s LAFC vs. Inter Miami MLS game. Lionel Messi is a favorite to score, but there are plus-money odds in betting on him scoring first, last, and multiple times.
Messi to score (Bet365):
- Anytime Goalscorer: -120
- First Goalscorer: +350
- Last Goalscorer: +350
- Two or more goals: +400
- Three or more goals: +1600
- Goal Method – Header: +3300
- Goal Method – Outside the Box: +500
Anytime Goalscorer:
First Goalscorer:
Player To Score Two or More:
LAFC to win and both teams to score (BetMGM):
- Yes +225
- No -350
Inter Miami to win and both teams to score (BetMGM):
- Yes +400
- No -700
Time of First Goal (Caesars):
- 1st to 15th Minute +160
- 16th to 30th Minute +265
- 31st Minute to Half Time +400
- 46th to 60th Minute +700
- 61st to 75th Minute +1100
- 76th Minute to Full Time +1500
- No Goal +1400
Correct Score (FanDuel):
- LAFC 1-0: +1000
- LAFC 2-0: +1100
- LAFC 2-1: +750
- LAFC 3-0: +1800
- Miami 1-0: +1600
- Miami 2-0: +2500
- Miami 2-1: +1200
- Miami 3-0: +4800
- 0-0: +1700
- 1-1: +650
- 2-2: +1100
- 3-3: +4100
Over/Under Total Goals (BetRivers):
- Over 1.5 goals -625, Under 1.5 goals: +410
- Over 2.5 goals -180, Under 2.5 goals: +143
- Over 3.5 goals +143, Under 3.5 goals: -177
- Over 4.5 goals +335, Under 4.5 goals: -480
- Over 5.5 goals +750, Under 5.5 goals: -1430
LAFC vs. Inter Miami Prediction
Could this be the first loss for Miami since Messi’s arrival? It certainly has the makings of it with a home LAFC with a clean bill of health for the first time this season.
Inter Miami has been slowing down with the run of games it’s played in this summer. Unless Messi scores and carries them, it seems complicated to see a victory.
Miami needs a win to continue pushing upward in the MLS Cup Playoffs race, particularly because they’ll be without Messi next week as they play during the FIFA international break. Because of that urgency, back Miami in this high-profile Sunday night encounter.
Here are a few bets that are worth considering:
- Inter Miami to win:
- Over 3.5 Goals:
- Anytime Scorer: Lionel Messi , Denis Bouanga , Carlos Vela , Josef Martinez
LAFC vs. Inter Miami Broadcast Info: Where to Watch
- Date/Time: Sunday, September 3, 10:00 p.m. ET
- Location: BMO Stadium – Los Angeles, California
Watch this match at one of the following:
- MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (English/Spanish)
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