Another goal-scoring spectacle from Messi? MLS prediction: Columbus vs. Inter Miami
Inter Miami CF
In the early hours of Monday, September 28, 2026, at 01:00 Central European Time, the Eastern Conference's headline MLS clash will take place at the stadium in Columbus, where Columbus Crew host Inter Miami.
The Herons sit in the conference's top three and are chasing the summit, while the home side are desperately trying to save their season and close in on the MLS Cup Playoffs wild-card line.
Columbus are going through a difficult spell, sitting just 13th in the East (26 points). Despite beating Montreal 2-0 in the previous round, the team coached by French manager Laurent Courtois are being hit hard by injuries: top scorer Wessam Abu Ali is sidelined with a knee problem, key defender Rudy Camacho is injured, and midfielder Sekou Bangoura is out with an ankle issue.
Mohamed Farsi and Dylan Chambost are shouldering the creative burden in attack, but Columbus Crew's defense has struggled badly to contain the giants' lightning-fast offense.
Inter Miami, under new Argentine head coach Kily González, are holding on to third place (46 points) and are on an unbeaten run. Lionel Messi leads the league's goalscoring and assist charts (20 goals and 11 assists), while Rodrigo De Paul provides the steel in midfield.
The Herons still have the dangerous Luis Suárez up front, and he opened the scoring in their August meeting. Inter Miami regularly create a wealth of chances in front of the opposition goal, although they have often had to settle for draws in recent matches (2-2 with San Diego and another 2-2 draw against Columbus).
Inter Miami have become an extremely awkward opponent for Columbus Crew: the Florida club have not lost to Columbus since September 2022 (six wins and two draws in their last eight competitive meetings). On August 2, 2026, the teams produced an entertaining shootout in Miami that ended 2-2 (goals: Suárez, Allen — Méndez, own goal).
It is expected that Columbus will look to press from the opening whistle at home and control possession through a 3-4-2-1 system. However, Inter Miami are masters at punishing open spaces: the Messi-Suárez partnership on the counterattack could tear apart the hosts' injury-depleted defensive core.
What should you bet on in this match?
The perfect script for a classic MLS game: a high-scoring encounter in which Messi's leadership and the visitors' experience will allow the Herons to take points back to Ohio. My prediction: Inter Miami to avoid defeat and over 2.5 total goals.
