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Edgar Chaput
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul Prediction: Leagues Cup Odds
The Leagues Cup has only been around since 2019 and didn’t play in 2020 for obvious reasons. As such, it’s hard to assess how much hype there should be surrounding it, even though the concept of a tournament between MLS and Mexican Liga MX clubs sounds neat. But this week’s match is not garnering attention for the fact that the 2019 winners Cruz Azul are involved. No, it’s because one of the best players to ever grace the sport, Lionel Messi, will make his Inter Miami debut.
Miami is expected to win seeing as they are -110 favourites on the Leagues Cup odds. Cruz Azul are +275 and a draw is +250.
Inter Miami Leagues Cup Odds
What a peculiar moment for Lionel Messi to suit up for the first time on an Major League Soccer roster. For one, it isn’t even en MLS match, but rather a continental tournament. Second, if we just look at what sort of club Messi has joined – as well as former Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets – Inter Miami are in shambles at the moment.
Last place in the Eastern Conference with only 18 points, their 5-3-14 win-draw-loss record is the worst in the entire league by virtue of having lost more games than the West’s Colorado Rapids. The club’s -14 goal differential is tied for second worst and they haven’t tasted a win in any competition since late May. Last Saturday they were pounded into submission by St. Louis CITY SC 3-0. Josef Martinez leads the club with six goals to his name, followed by Leonardo Campana’s four.
Lionel Messi – Ballon ’Or winner, FIFA World Cup Winner, Champions League winner, La Liga winner, Copa America winner – is about to change things. How much? How quickly? For how long? We find out starting Friday. It should be noted that while Messi should play, he might not start.
Cruz Azul Leagues Cup Odds
There is another team on the pitch Friday night! Winners of the inaugural 2019 edition of the Leagues Cup, the Mexican team is normally no slouch, although their domestic Apertura campaign has gotten off to a rotten start.
Things don’t look great at the moment, what with the club’s 0-0-3 record and -5 goal differential. Cruz haven’t been a true force since winning the Apertura in 2018, but in recent seasons hovered just inside the top 10. The issues are reportedly many and varied, starting with a mediocre lineup and tension between manager Ricardo Ferretti and the front office. Right winger Uriel Antuna and midfielder Carlos Rodriguez are said to be two of the club’s most important players, keys to whatever success they might attain in 2023. Certainly scoring a win over Inter Miami will provide a sigh of relief.
