Inter Miami CF vs. Nashville FC Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 9/22/21
Inter Miami had a club-record unbeaten run of six consecutive matches come to an end on Friday with a 4-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls. Prior to the loss, Inter Miami had five wins and one draw in its previous 6 matches. The loss was only the second for Miami over its last 12 matches, that included seven wins and three losses, which followed a losing streak of six consecutive matches. On Wednesday, Inter Miami will play without Ian Fray, Joevin Jones, Ventura Alvarado and Victor Ulloa. Ryan Shawcross is questionable.
Nashville was defeated on the road Saturday by Toronto 2-1 but it was only the third loss this season for the club and the first since August 8, when Nashville was defeated by Inter Miami 2-1. Nashville has not lost two consecutive fixtures in the MLS since August of 2020, which was the club’s inaugural season in the top-flight U.S. football league. Nashville does not have any players listed on its injury report.
Inter Miami Two Spots from Playoff Qualification
Inter Miami is 9th in the MLS Eastern Conference standings with a record of 9-5-10, 32 points and a -11 goal difference. Miami is just two spots and three points from 7th place which is the final qualifying place in the conference for the postseason. However, Miami is coming off a poor performance against the New York Red Bulls, allowing 27 shots which were the most ever against the club.
Inter Miami has won three of its last five matches with one loss and one draw. The leading goal scorer this season for Miami is Argentine Gonzalo Higuain with nine and the second leading scorer is Robbie Robinson with four. Higuain leads Miami in assists with four and brother Federico, as well as Gregore each have three assists. Inter Miami goalkeeper Nick Marsman has appeared in 14 matches allowing 17 goals.
C.J. Sapong Reaches 10 Goals for a Third Time
Nashville is second in the MLS Eastern Conference standings with a record of 10-11-3, 41 points and a +16 goal difference. C.J. Sapong has scored a team-leading 10 goals this season following a goal against Toronto. Sapong has scored 10 goals or more with three different MLS clubs including Nashville, Philadelphia and Chicago. Nashville has scored 39 goals and allowed only 23 this season through 24 matches played.
Tied with Sapong for the lead in goals scored for Nashville is Hany Mukhtar with 10. Randall Leal is third in goals scored with four. Mukhtar is the leader in assists with eight, while Leal has five and Daniel Lovitz and Sapong each have four. Goalkeeper Joe Willis has appeared in each of Nashville's 24 matches this season allowing 23 goals with goals-against average of 0.96.
Pick: Inter Miami
Inter Miami defeated Nashville earlier this season on August 8 by the score of 2-1 at home. It was the first time in five matches that Miami had defeated Nashville. Although Inter Miami lost its most recent match versus the New York Red Bulls, the club had gone six consecutive fixtures without a loss, including five wins and one draw in which included their 2-1 victory over Nashville. Nashville has just three losses this season, but all three have come on the road. Gonzalo Higuain has given Inter Miami a strong scoring presence up front and is also the leader in assists making the Argentine hard to defend.
Total: Over
Nashville has allowed only 23 goals this season for an average of 0.96 per match, but has scored 39 for an average of 1.63 per match and the total has gone over the 2.5 goals per match threshold in three of the last four matches played by Nashville. In the first meeting of the season between these two, three goals were scored.