Well, it’s almost here.
When it comes to early season matchups on MLS’s 2025 calendar, it’s hard to top Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami in terms of sheer narrative: Lionel Messi’s presence will always loom large over the proceedings, but the obvious storyline of Atlanta — as a massive underdog — ending Inter Miami’s playoff run last year is much more salient.
Now the two teams meet for the first time since Atlanta’s emotional 3-2 win in November to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Even outside of the playoffs, every match against these teams seems to be a barnburner, and it would be tough to expect anything different on Sunday night.
And while Ronny Deila didn’t think this match “means more” than others, he didn’t deny that there’s something different about it.
“It’s three points, and we want to win every game we are into, but of course it’s an exciting game, and of course with history also, that makes it even more exciting,” Atlanta United’s head coach said.
Of course, there’s the question of whether or not Atlanta can find the back of the net, with MLS Season Pass analyst Sacha Kljestan explaining to Tyler, Henry, and me on Wednesday’s Scarves and Spikes podcast why he feels it’s been tough for the attack to get rolling in the early stages.
We asked @SachaKljestan why he thought Atlanta United's attack has yet to find its footing in 2025 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/YvqSjxQvoP
— ⚽️Scarves and Spikes | SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE! (@ScarvesNSpikes) March 13, 2025
And, of course, Henry’s deep dive on the topic from the other day is required reading if you haven’t checked it out already.
 | We’re proud to announce that we’re a partner of Sweetwater Brewing Company, based here in Atlanta! Check out their website at sweetwaterbrew.com for more information. |
The book on Inter Miami
To get the big question out of the way first: yes, Lionel Messi will be available for selection.
Of course, Miami is so much more than the iconic No. 10 (see Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets). The club’s new signings — notably Telasco Sevogia, a U22 player with three goals to his name already, and Tadeo Allende, who’s scored twice — and youngsters like Noah Allen, Benja Cremaschi, and Ian Fray make for an intriguing roster, one that is better than last year’s in the opinion of Matt Doyle. That’s not to mention veteran center back Maxi Falcón, who has yet to play in an MLS match but has appeared in all but one of Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup outings.
They’ve been dealing with fixture congestion due to CCC, and Drake Callender, who didn’t travel with the team to face Cavalier in Jamaica on Thursday, has been working his way back from an adductor injury. If he isn’t able to go on Sunday, we’ll see former Five Stripe keeper Rocco Rios Novo (remember him!) get the start with backup GK Oscar Ustari serving a red-card suspension.
Atlanta United injury report
The big news here is that Latte Lath will be available after emerging from the concussion protocol with the green light. Brooks Lennon could be in line for a debut on Sunday, although Deila said “we’ll see” when asked if the right back was 90-minutes fit.
“He’s ready, and he’s very motivated, I can see,” Deila said.
Meanwhile, Mateusz Klich has been ruled questionable due to a quad injury, according to the club’s availability report released on Saturday.
Atlanta’s other right back, Ronald Hernandez, “(had) a chance” to play after dealing with a quad injury, per Deila, but was ultimately ruled out. Jamal Thiare, meanwhile, remains a little ways off.
“Jamal is too early,” Deila said. He still hasn’t started running, so it would take a little bit more time.”
Atlanta United predicted starting XI vs. Inter Miami
Prediction: Atlanta United 1-1 Inter Miami
Atlanta will get itself back on the scoresheet, but things will be tight and tense throughout the night as ultimately this plays out to a draw.
Get ready for Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami
Our midweek podcast with Sacha Kljestan | Watch on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeart
Across the Pitch with the Battered Herons | Watch on YouTube
Every week, Scarves and Spikes brings you original interviews, on-site coverage, live shows/podcasts, and the analysis you won’t find at the bigger national outlets. With 2026 being a World Cup year, Atlanta United facing yet another important transfer window, the U.S. Soccer National Training Center setting up shop in the Atlanta area, and NWSL Atlanta kicking off in 2028, your support helps us do even more.
What you get on Patreon:
- Atlanta United training ground updates
- Discord access — talk Atlanta soccer with the SnS team and other supporters
- Patreon-only mailbags
- Grey Gowder’s analytical deep-dives on roster construction, the academy, ATL UTD 2, and more
Start your free trial
MY TAKE – this coach has the right mind set – we use the backward passing to much, we need to move the ball forward.. thru the mids. Getting Guzan – to be more active on the counter could get the ball out the back 1/3 faster – else we get stuck passing back. The defense need to get the ball to the mids earlier, that would build and counter quick. We have speed in the 3 front players. #59 – has not impressed me, as it seems he is soft on the ball and often time inaccurate with his passes. Edwards is a better fix – and work harder at challenging the attacker that Lennon – who often if not always just escorts and never engages.
While it’s still very early in the season & as I said before the season I am waiting until the midway point of this season to give my evaluation of if I truly think: (ATL UTD) “We’re back baby!”. However, a couple of things that I will be looking for in tomorrows match will be first: on the offensive side of the ball for us to speed up the game & play faster to create more shots on goal and as far as defensively us not sitting back for extended periods of time without marking anyone/pressuring the ball because we simply can’t expect to outscore everyone remaining on our once our offense really gets going.
What’s the over/under on how many goals Brooks gives up from his bad defense?
I dont understand the Brooks hate when Matt Edwards, with all due respect to him and his continued growth, is the clear weak link of the team right now.
I agree. Although he’s acquitted himself quite well, teams are clearly targeting him, and he has made some errors due to his level of experience.
To preface: I am team pro Lennon right now.
The hate comes from, understandably, Lennon’s poor defense and his ineffectiveness in the attack due to his one dimensionality. He often gives the other winger too much space to make an effective cross, while on his side, other than one season he did inverted fullback stuff, generally his thing was run along the touchline and side in a hopeful late cross.
That said, I think all of that can be true *and* for the system we’re trying to run, he could be the best RB we have on the roster and even a really effective RB. In offense, Miggy rarely runs down the line, and often comes in centrally or even left. To stretch the field and compliment Miggy, what it really seems like we need is a workhorse RB who likes to stay wide, bombs forward to take advantage of all that open space Miggy is dragging away from that side, and provide some quick chance creation. It doesn’t need to be perfect, just something to keep the defense honest. All while still having the energy to run back into defense. Because of our high press, we don’t really need someone who is an expert defender on that side, since we won’t often be sitting in a low block that needs to weather storms like that, just someone to work hard and help slow down transition moments. That sounds like exactly like Lennon to me.
He’s not perfect obviously, it would still be much better if he was a better 1v1 defender, and he needs to work on getting the ball off his foot into a cross faster. But I think his and Amador’s additional presence on the wings could do wonders to overload the defense.
considering Amador started in his first match back, I would assume Lennon will start the match tomorrow and depending on the situation Edwards will sub on for him in the 2nd half. Also Klich is listed as questionable so I would not be surprised if Muyumba starts again tomorrow.
I agree with you about Muymba over Klich, but my guess is that Edwards will start at RB and Lennon will come around around the hour mark.
I honestly thought they would do that with Amador, since he was coming back from a hamstring issue, but he started. I think Deila would rather start them and then pull them after an hour or so
3-2 Miami