The stage is set for a thrilling first leg matchup in the CONCACAF Champions League as Nashville SC prepares to host Inter Miami at Nissan Stadium tonight! Here's a look at the confirmed lineups for both teams:
Confirmed Lineups:
Nashville SC Starting XI: Joseph Willis; Daniel Lovitz; Lukas MacNaughton, Hany Mukhtar, Tyler Boyd, Jacob Shaffelburg, Shaq Moore, Alex Muyl, Anibal Godoy, Walker Zimmerman Sean Davis
Inter Miami Starting XI: Drake Callender; Sergio Busquets, Tomás Aviles, Diego Gómez, Nicolás Freire, Julian Gressel, Sergiy Kryvtsov, Noah Allen, Federico Redondo, Luis Suárez, Lionel Messi
All eyes will be on Nashville SC's midfield with the notable absence of star player Hany Mukhtar. The attacking midfielder is still recovering from a hip injury, leaving a big hole to fill in their attacking plans.
Match Preview:
Competition: CONCACAF Champions Cup (Round of 16)
Date: Friday, March 8th, 2024
Time: 7:30 AM UTC
Venue: GEODIS Park, Nashville, USA
Inter Miami's Defensive Backbone:
Inter Miami will be looking to their experienced backline, anchored by the ever-reliable Nicolas Freire, to shut down Nashville's attack. The return of Jordi Alba at left-back after a slight training knock adds another layer of experience to their defense.
Clash of Styles:
With Nashville's formation yet to be confirmed, it will be interesting to see how they approach the game without Mukhtar. Will they opt for a more defensive strategy, or will they look to exploit Inter Miami on the counter-attack? Inter Miami, on the other hand, will likely rely on their strong midfield trio of Ruiz, Busquets, and Gomez to control the tempo and create chances for their dangerous forwards.