FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The word to describe Inter Miami’s vibe before its decisive Game 3 playoff match against Atlanta United: Tranquilo.
Lionel Messi’s club is calm, cool and without worries as their first-round series in the MLS Cup Playoffs comes down to a deciding game Saturday at 8 p.m. ET inside Chase Stadium.
Inter Miami also got some encouraging news Friday afternoon: Sergio Busquets will be questionable for the match. He practiced separately from the club, and could return after a knock resulted in pneumonia-like symptoms last week.
‘We’re confident in the progression of his recovery, and are hopeful he’ll be available for tomorrow’s match,’ the club said in a statement.
Inter Miami needs a win to continue its historic season that included winning the Supporters’ Shield and setting the points record (74) with the best regular season in league history. Anything short of winning the MLS Cup final Dec. 7 would be a disappointment – especially a first-round exit.
‘It is better to be relaxed, and what happens here is that there is a background of a work that has been going on for a year and a half,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said Friday. ‘We have spent all this time keeping calm, working, not saying inappropriate things and in the same way we face matches knowing that the results can be any of the three possible ones.”
Inter Miami likes its chances for a win, and even a draw to force a penalty shootout. But a loss would leave a sour taste to Messi’s first full season in Major League Soccer.
Messi has been scoreless in the first two MLS playoff games: Inter Miami beat Atlanta 2-1 in Game 1, while Atlanta won Game 2 by the same score.
When is Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United Game 3 of the MLS Cup Playoffs?
The final match of the first-round series is Saturday at 8 p.m. ET (9 p.m. in Argentina).
How to watch Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United live stream
The match is available to stream here: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Is Messi playing?
Yes, Messi is expected to start and captain Inter Miami in Saturday’s decisive playoff game.
Inter Miami’s Sergio Busquets questionable, but Yannick Bright is out
Messi, Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba will help Inter Miami lean on their experience, even without a key starter.
Busquets, considered the best midfielder in the sport’s history, is medically cleared to play and could contribute defensively.
Rookie midfielder Yannick Bright, who roamed the midfield allowing Busquets to play as a centerback defender, will miss Game 3 due to a hamstring injury he suffered in Game 2.
Inter Miami and Atlanta will play each other for a fifth time this season on Saturday: Atlanta has two wins, Inter Miami has one, and they’ve played to a draw in the others.
“Tomorrow is a very tough game, a game that we know we have no margin for error, and that if you win you are in the next stage and if not, you go home,” Inter Miami’s Leo Campana said. “So, we are focused on what is coming. We are very confident in what we can do.”
This story has been updated with an injury update on Inter Miami player Sergio Busquets.