Playoff Showdown: Inter Miami vs. Nashville SC

It’s that exciting time in Major League Soccer—playoffs are here! One matchup that has everyone buzzing is the first-round best-of-three series between No. 3 Inter Miami and No. 6 Nashville SC, kicking off this Friday at 8 p.m., available on Apple TV and FS1.

This piece isn’t so much about the teams but rather a single pressing question: Can Miami’s superstar, Lionel Messi, guide his squad to MLS Cup victory? He started off strong, netting a hat trick and securing the first MLS Golden Boot Award as the top scorer of the regular season. It certainly seems like Miami might have the upper hand going into this first-round game against Nashville, which happens to be the same team they faced last time.

Additionally, Inter Miami boasts a formidable attacking lineup featuring Jordi Alba, Rodrigo de Paul, and Sergio Busquets. Amidst all these stars, it’s easy to overlook young midfielder Benjamin Kremaski. He’s really developed over the years and made headlines just this month by leading the U.S. U-20 team to the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Qatar.

On the flip side, Nashville finds itself in a bit of a pickle, largely due to the performance of British-born striker Sam Surridge. He was in contention for the MLS Golden Boot, wrapping up the season with 24 goals, which was good enough for second place, helping Nashville secure the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Yet, it’s worth acknowledging that scoring isn’t everything—though, of course, goals are crucial. Nashville must tighten its defensive game against a Miami team that attacks relentlessly. Miami leads the league with a staggering 81 goals and 84 assists this season, while only Chicago comes close in the goal count with 68.

This season, Nashville accumulated 58 points, with nearly half coming from Surridge. However, they also conceded 45 goals, which is concerning. Adding to their woes, the team has only managed to win five league matches away from home, out of 17 played. Miami, in contrast, boasts a strong 11-3-3 record at Chase Stadium—a significant advantage in their favor.

But there’s a silver lining for Nashville: head coach BJ Callahan. He knows these high-stakes moments well and has a track record against some of the best teams globally. Under his guidance, Nashville achieved its best-ever season finish before leading the U.S. Men’s National Team as interim coach to a CONCACAF Nations League victory. Still, some skeptics remain, questioning if he could maintain control.

Now, Callahan and his men have the task of proving that their recent 5-2 defeat to Miami was merely an anomaly and that they can find a way to contend with one of the league’s top teams, filled with players who are still highly regarded worldwide.

Game 1 Prediction: Miami 2, Nashville 0