Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami: Messi, Muyumba, Martinez, Martino and more

 Tonight is the Five Stripes' first Leagues Cup match, and they'll be playing on the road in Ft. Lauderdale against Inter Miami. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on Apple TV, and I'm willing to bet that you'll recognize at least a couple of the people cheering for their team. Which reminds me, pardon me for a moment...

Sure, no problem. There is now a lot of death in the world of search engine optimization. We need to be at our best. 

If you haven't already noticed, you probably won't identify the world's most famous person, and he appears like he might be the one to start. The contest will also include Josef Martinez and Tata Martino. It's going to be tough to keep track of all the storylines in your head while reading this one. However, the folks at your neighborhood soccer news site are here to lend a hand. 

Source: thestriker

Both Messi and Busquets will see substantial playing time.Tata Martino, head coach of Inter Miami, has said that Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets will play more minutes in this matchup. After spending most of the second half of Friday's Leagues Cup win over Cruz Azul, it's reasonable to assume that both players will be starting tonight. 

As the first real indicator of what Inter Miami will look like in a complete game with two players unlikely to make an impact defensively, it will undoubtedly be fascinating for a variety of reasons. Even if Josef Martinez gets the start, that's not the story most people will believe outside of Atlanta, but the Five Stripes should try to see it as an opening. 

The majority of Atlanta United's outfield issues this season have involved some sort of buildup. Gonzalo Pineda's tactical blueprint calls for a back-to-the-net approach that prioritizes possession and ball control. Bad turnovers, too methodical play, and poor chance creation have plagued the Five Stripes when they have been pinned back in their own half by the opposition's press or Atlanta's own issues to pry apart a rigid mid-block. They've been a terrific, maybe even great, attacking team when they can get the ball into the opponent's final third with relative ease. 

For the most part, Atlanta should be able to easily penetrate Inter Miami's defensive third tonight. Let's get Miami's position straight. This is a 1996 Honda Civic to which NASA has mounted a rocket engine. Even though it got significantly quicker, it's still a terrible vehicle. There's a good reason this club has been in last place all season. They are terrible at preventing goals, their midfield is weakened by injury, and they lack elite talent up forward. 

The trouble, of course, is that Atlanta United has already lost to the Civic without the rocket booster, so none of it matters. It won't be simple to do this. 

The Atlanta defense is likely to be dug in for the long haul against any counterattack. The Five Stripes' rest defense, a poorly termed soccer term for maintaining possession form to quickly change into defense following a turnover, will be crucial if they are in control of the ball. 

You can only exert so much management after that point. This is what's due to the best player of all time. All you can do is hope to make the most of simple chances, outrun whatever wizardry he may conjure up, and keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible. 

"You're familiar with my outlook. Gonzalo Pineda said Monday that the greatest way to contain a great player is to stop giving him the ball. To have more of the ball than they do is the key. Possession is the key.

"If Messi is going to create danger at some point, instead of 15 chances for Messi to create danger, what if it's only three?" he said. To paraphrase, "What if we limit in that way that amount of chances, and hopefully, he's not sharp in two of those three."

Best of luck to everyone involved. Particularly the entire back line, including teenage wingback Caleb Wiley and defensive midfielder Santiago Sosa. Thankfully, they'll likely receive reinforcements.

When did Muyumba make his first appearance?

Tristan Muyumba is expected to make his Atlanta United debut at some time. Even though Atlanta will have to be patient with him as he learns the ropes and gets back into shape before he can play, he will be available for this game. It will be nice to see a new player on the pitch, even if they only play a few minutes. 

However, Atlanta shouldn't rush to judgment on all of the competitors. The Five Stripes shouldn't give up hope at the first sign of trouble, but it would be wise for them to rest starters like Giorgos Giakoumakis and otherwise prepare for their next MLS game on August 20 with as healthy a roster as possible and as much fresh legs as possible. A trip to the championship game is highly unlikely. Absolutely not. Only slight. This situation is fairly similar to the U.S. Open Cup in that less games wouldn't be the end of the world. As the Five Stripes prepare for a challenging 10-game homestretch in MLS, a brief spell in Leagues Cup could allow for rehabilitation and the incorporation of pieces like Muyumba and whatever Atlanta happens to bring in over the course of the next week. 

Take it all in

It's fine if you can't see the full picture right now. This is truly unique. Not just for the spectators, but also for the lucky participants. There will be some sadness when you factor in Tata and Josef, but remember to bury that feeling and move on; moreover, look, there's Lionel Messi scoring a beautiful goal against your favorite team; isn't that cool?

In any case, it will be an unforgettable experience for all participants. I'll be honest and say that I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Barcelona native Miguel Berry can have a significant impact here. Berry told the press he was at Messi's debut game at Camp Nou last week. Messi remained an important part of Berry's life even after he relocated from Catalonia to the United States. 

Barcelona on the weekend was my only link to the place I called home for so long. When I moved here, that was the only true link I had to the sport back home. That was all I had," Berry said. When I first arrived, it wasn't as widely broadcast as it is now. To see him play, we had to shell out for the premium seats. It was the one thing that kept us somewhat linked to each other. Because I was born at the right time, I was able to observe him for an unusually extended period of time. Count me among the fortunate ones.

Just in case

Finally, a word about tonight's structure. If the score is tied after regulation and overtime, penalties will decide the winner. In the event of a penalty shootout, the victor will receive three points and the loser will receive only one. For Atlanta's hopes of making it to the second round, every point counts. The door was opened for Atlanta by Inter Miami's victory over Cruz Azul. The Five Stripes need only a tie or a win on Saturday against Cruz Azul in Atlanta to advance. I wouldn't blame anyone for taking it easy and enjoying the performance tonight. 

   Content Source: https://www.thestriker.com/2023/07/25/atlanta-united-vs-inter-miami-messi-muyumba-martinez-martino-