Inter Miami v DC United: Line-ups, stats and preview

An unbeaten 11-match home run may not be the only cause for confidence among Inter Miami fans at the Chase Stadium on Saturday, when their side will target a second MLS win in front of them in four days following their 3-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Tuesday.

The Herons will seal a play-off place with six matches to spare if they avoid defeat and better the New York Red Bulls’ result at bottom club Montreal – but the best news of the week appears to concern Lionel Messi’s long-mooted new contract, which the captain will announce imminently, according to the Miami Herald.

While Messi’s contract is expected to be the last of the footballing icon’s career, homegrown 21-year-old Noah Allen announced on Thursday that he has extended his terms until 2028 with an optional extra year, and manager Javier Mascherano laughed when it was suggested that Yannick Bright could be next to sign a new deal.

“I don’t think we should wait until [beating Seattle] to decide whether he deserves a raise,” Mascherano said of the 24-year-old midfielder.

“I don’t get involved in that. He has been proving that he is clearly an important player. He’s a player who grows day by day, goes above and beyond himself and believes in how important he is to the team, so I’m very happy with him.”

Miami’s visitors are second-bottom Eastern Conference team DC United, who are a point above Montreal and one behind Atlanta United and Toronto following a third 1-1 draw in four matches when they were held at home by Orlando City on Sunday.

Rene Weiler’s players also drew at Montreal and won at New York City as part of that run, as well as sharing the points with Inter Miami at Audi Field on August 24, when Messi was absent and home midfielder Jackson Hopkins’ early goal opened the scoring before Baltasar Rodriguez equalised during the second half.