Inter Miami to host Philadelphia in battle of table-top teams

The Philadelphia Union lead Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference with 12 points, but the Herons can reclaim the top spot with a win Saturday.

Philadelphia Union (4-1-0, 12 pts., 1st) at Inter Miami (3-0-1, 10 pts., 3rd); 7:30 ET Saturday, March 29, Chase Stadium; Apple TV MLS Season Pass

The Pink & Black should be well-rested heading into Saturday’s clash against East-leading Philadelphia; the Herons and New England Revolution enjoyed byes Matchday 5 while the other 28 MLS teams played.

Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi was expected to train with the Herons’ full squad today, but his availability for matches Saturday and Wednesday is still uncertain. Photo: Imagn Images

Still, Miami coach Javier Mascherano must consider carefully who he deploys against the Union; the Herons play LAFC in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Messi: Will he or won’t he?

Inter Miami roster questions always start with Lionel Messi. The Argentine legend reaggravated what club officials called a “minor” adductor injury in the Herons 2-1 win March 16 in Atlanta, causing him to miss World Cup-qualifying matches for La Albiceleste against Uruguay and Brazil. The Herons’ captain had been seen training on his own this week and was expected to practice with the full team Friday, but it’s unclear whether he’ll be available for the matches against Philadelphia and at LAFC.

Mascherano is careful with what he share’s about his star player.

“Leo is good, God willing, and if nothing weird happens, he will be named to the matchday roster," Mascherano told the media Friday. “…Leo is a very special player…a player who, well, obviously sometimes needs to be restrained so he doesn't take risks, but he also knows his body very well, and the reality is that he's been training progressively more and more."

"Leo is good, God willing and if nothing weird happens, he will be named to the matchday roster.”

— Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano

Herons’ possible starters

The Herons are blessed with greater depth than last year’s record-setting 74-point Supporters Shield-winning side — maybe more depth than any MLS team ever. But that makes it more difficult to predict a starting lineup.

Striker had been the only position without a trusted backup, forcing 38-year-old Uruguayan star Luis Suarez to start every match for Inter Miami. Inter Miami officials hope the recent acquisition of Allen Obando, 18, on loan from Ecuadorian Serie A’s Barcelona Sporting Club will let the Herons rest Suarez, but I don’t think we’ll see it this weekend.

I think we’ll see Oscar Ustari in goal against Philly and LAFC; Drake Callender, the team’s starter since the beginning of the 2022 season, suffered an adductor injury while training with the USMNT in January and hasn’t played in 2025. He was on the bench against Atlanta, but third-string keeper Rocco Rios Novo started while Ustari served a one-game red-card suspension.

Callender will have to win back his starting position from the 39-year-old Argentinian, who has started seven of Miami’s competitive matches this season and proven to be comfortable with the ball at his feet, communicating with the Herons’ back line and reading the game. I don’t think Mascherano will let Callender make his first start in critical early season matchups.

Look for Ian Fray or Gonzalo Lujan at right back opposite Jordi Alba. Lujan, Tomas Aviles, or Maxi Falcon will play right center back, next to Noah Allen or David Henderson.

Sergio Busquets and Yannick Bright should start in defensive centerfield, although Mascherano could replace Bright with Federico Redondo if he wants a more offensive-minded unit.

I think Fafà Picault, who had the winning goal against Atlanta, will start at left wing, with Telasco Segovia roaming the middle and Tadeo Allende at right wing, with a rested Suarez at the tip of the spear.

David Ruiz, Robert Taylor and Marcelo Weigandt all are out with hamstring injuries.

Scouting the Union

Tai Baribo leads MLS with six goals after Matchday 5. Photo: Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia’s 1-0 win Saturday over St. Louis City lifted the surprising Union (4-1-0), 12 points) past undefeated Miami (3-0-1, 10 points) and into first place. The perennial contenders failed to make the MLS Cup playoffs in 2024, costing coach Jim Curtin his job.

Bradley Carnell, the former St. Louis City manager, has skipped rebuilding and gone right to reloading. Tai Baribo (6 goals), Kai Wagner (4 assists) and Quinn Sullivan (3 assists) lead an attack that’s scored 12 goals in five matches; only Orlando SC (13) has more.

“We've always believed the internal competition has to be bigger than the external competition.”

— Union coach Bradley Carnell on earning playing time

Carnell told PhiladelphiaUnion.com that competition for playing time is fierce:

“We've always believed the internal competition has to be bigger than the external competition,” Carnell said. “This week has been nothing short of really good, focused, and professional. So yeah. There's tough decisions to make.”

The venerable Andre Blake, 34, starts in goal for the Union, behind Francis Westfield, Jakob Glesnes, Olwethu Makhanya, and Wagner. The midfielders are Daniel Gazdag, Danley Jean Jacques, Jovan Lukic and Sullivan. Mikhael Uhre starts up front with Baribo.

Cavan Sullivan, soccer prodigy

One of the Union’s most talked-about talents isn’t currently on the senior roster. Cavan Sullivan — Quinn’s 15-year-old brother — broke Freddy Adu’s record as the youngest player to play in an MLS match last season and continues to draw attention as one of the world’s most talented young players.