Atlanta United’s Leagues Cup debut couldn’t come in a more chaotic fashion, at least in terms of off-field storylines. Josef Martinez and Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino have been reunited, but this time it’s at Inter Miami alongside a certain Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets. Messi may be in line for his first start for Miami against one of his fellow 2022 World Cup winners and the future of the Argentinian national team, Thiago Almada. It won’t be easy for the on-field action to match up to the narratives, however, as both teams enter on shaky ground soccer-wise.
Though Miami did win its Leagues Cup opener against Cruz Azul thanks to a 94th-minute Messi freekick golazo, it was far from a performance to be proud of from the Herons who could easily have lost if not for Cruz Azul being, well, Cruz Azul.