Inter Miami will line up Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul for their match against Columbus Crew, despite a raft of international absences. Both players will be available until October 6, when they leave for Argentina’s World Cup champions’ farewell match against Benin.
Seven Inter Miami players are away on international duty, including German Berterame (Mexico), Dayne St. Clair (Canada) and Matías Galarza (Paraguay), but Cristian González’s side retains its core for this Eastern Conference fixture.
The Herons sit third in the Eastern Conference with 46 points from 12 wins, 4 draws and 10 losses, having last drawn 2-2 with San Diego FC. Messi and Luis Suárez both scored, but Anders Dreyer’s two goals leveled the match.
Columbus Crew sit 13th in the East, seven points from the final playoff spot with eight games remaining, and need a win. They arrive in good form after a 2-0 victory at CF Montreal on Matchday 27, with second-half goals from Mohamed Farsi and Brais Méndez.
Confirmed lineup for Columbus Crew
Laurent Courtois enters this one missing a center-back and a forward option, with Steven Moreira and Gonzalo Tapia both suspended and Wessam Abou Ali sidelined by a knee injury.
Columbus Crew lineup: Patrick Schulte; Mohamed Farsi, Sean Zawadzki, Eric Bailly, Malte Amundsen; Anass Zaroury, Dylan Chambost, Taha Habroune, Santiago Rodríguez; Brais Méndez, Josef Martínez.
Confirmed lineup for Inter Miami
Kily González faces a longer list of absences, with Mateo Silvetti, Tadeo Allende, Ian Fray and Telasco Segovia injured, plus the seven internationals.
Inter Miami lineup: Rocco Ríos Novo; Micael, Casemiro, Gonzalo Luján; Sergio Reguilón, Rodrigo De Paul, Yannick Bright, Facundo Mura; Dániel Pintér, Luis Suárez, Lionel Messi.