As the Concacaf Champions Cup approaches the quarterfinals, Los Angeles FC (LAFC) will face Inter Miami on Wednesday night. Both teams are eager to win; Miami remains unbeaten under new coach Javier Mascherano, while LAFC grapples with new roster changes since the offseason. After a defeat to San Diego FC, LAFC is under pressure to perform at home, particularly since away goals are a crucial tiebreaker in this competition.

Lionel Messi continues to impact every match decisively; this will be his first clash with LAFC’s goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, since the 2022 World Cup final.

Match Details

• Date: Wednesday, April 2
• Time: 11:30 p.m. ET
• Location: BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, California
• TV: FS1
• Live Stream: Fubo TV

Predictive Insights

Messi is expected to start after previously coming off the bench. Miami has a strong offensive lineup, and given recent defensive struggles for LAFC, it’s projected that Miami could score multiple goals. Their hitting depth remains a strength, even without new standout players like Luis Suarez stepping into scoring roles.

Best Bet

Inter Miami to score 2+ goals (+150): Given LAFC’s recent issues defensively, betting on Miami to score at least twice appears to be a favorable line.

Player to Watch

Noah Allen: Transitioning to center-back is challenging for him, but his defensive awareness and strategy could prove essential for securing a win against LAFC’s attack.

Storyline to Monitor

Can Miami secure an away goal? The significance of the first-leg results heavily relies on not just winning but also building a solid lead to take back to Fort Lauderdale.

Prediction

Considering the new dynamics, LAFC’s season integration challenges may limit their success against the well-prepared Miami team. Picking Miami for a significant away achievement seems promising, predicting LAFC 0, Inter Miami 2.