The new Leagues Cup campaign kicks on Friday with a very special occasion as Lionel Messi is ready to make his Inter Miami debut in a match-up against Cruz Azul.
Can the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner get a debut goal? Bookmaker 10bet is offering odds at 1.90 for Messi to score on Friday.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: July 20th, 10:00 A.M. (EST)
Messi’s debut couldn’t have come at a better time for Miami as the team finds itself on a miserable run and badly needs to get some positive vibes and results around the place. Sergio Busquets is also set to make his first Miami appearance, giving Inter even more extra quality.
The two former Barcelona stars have joined a team that has gone 11 straight games without a win in MLS, losing eight of the outings. The side boasts only two clean sheets for the entire campaign and hasn’t been able to score enough goals to be competitive despite having the services of former MLS Golden Boot winner and MVP Josef Martinez.
Messi will be expected to deliver straight away, although Friday’s clash will almost be like a preseason game for him and we can’t expect him to be at his very best. It will likely take several outings before Messi is fully fit again. However, a half-fit Messi is still a major threat on the pitch and can only make his team better.
Inter will definitely benefit from Messi’s presence even if he ends up having an uneventful debut. He’ll be drawing a lot of attention on himself during attacking sequences and it should open up space for others to exploit.
Cruz Azul finds itself in a pretty similar spot to Miami at the start of the Leagues Cup campaign. The team has kicked off the Apertura in Liga MX with three consecutive losses, conceding five goals and scoring just once. The poor run leaves Cruz Azul with only two wins across its last 10 league matches.
The Leagues Cup could be a good distraction for Cruz Azul, giving the team an opportunity to focus on another competition and a good run in it might eventually help Ricardo Ferretti’s men going in the local league as well. Facing Messi will be an incredible experience for the players and no doubt the Cruz Azul contingent will want to put on a show against the Argentine superstar and his squad.
