Cincinnati – Inter Miami: can Messi’s side punch their ticket to the MLS Playoffs semifinals?
Inter Miami CF
The MLS Playoffs are entering the home stretch, and one of the quarterfinals will pit Cincinnati against Inter Miami. Here is my betting take on this matchup.
Cincinnati – Inter Miami: match facts and head-to-head
- Cincinnati have won only once in their last eight matches.
- Inter Miami have also lost just one of their six most recent games.
- Both clubs reached the quarterfinals with identical 2–1 victories in the Round of 16.
- Inter Miami have scored at least one goal in 11 straight matches.
- At home, Cincinnati have won their last three games and are unbeaten in five.
- Only 8% of Inter Miami’s matches this season ended in a scoreless defeat, compared to 16% for Cincinnati.
- Cincinnati have more clean-sheet wins: 30% versus Inter Miami’s 14%.
- Inter Miami have scored in both halves in 59% of their matches this season.
- Cincinnati and Inter have already met twice this year: one draw and one Cincinnati win.
Cincinnati – Inter Miami: match preview
Last season, both Cincinnati and Inter Miami crashed out of the MLS Playoffs in the Round of 32, each losing 1–2. But this campaign tells a very different story.
Cincinnati finished second in the MLS regular season, Inter Miami third. They were separated only by tiebreakers, as both sides collected 65 points and ended up just one point behind the league leaders.
In the Round of 16, Cincinnati faced Columbus Crew. They claimed the first leg 2–1, coming from behind in the second half, but were routed 0–4 away. In the decisive third match, Cincinnati bounced back with a narrow 1–0 win, reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 2023.
Inter Miami, meanwhile, have reached the MLS Playoffs quarterfinals for the first time in club history. Last year they won the regular season but still bowed out in the Round of 16, losing 1–2 despite entering the postseason as one of the main favourites. This season, however, they finally cleared the first playoff hurdle. Two home wins sealed their passage: a 3–1 and 4–0 sweep of Nashville, and despite losing on the road, Miami advanced comfortably.
Projected lineups
- Cincinnati: Celentano; Hadebe, Robinson, Engel; Powell, Gidi, Bucha, Orellano; Evander; Brenner, Denkey
- Inter Miami: Rios; Fray, Falcon, Allen, Alba; Busquets, De Paul; Allende, Messi, Rodriguez; Suarez
Prediction
Both clubs finished side by side in the standings and accumulated the same number of points. A high-stakes, highly intriguing matchup. My recommendation: take the over 3 total goals.
