The Herons weren’t entirely satisfied with their draw against Al-Ahly, in a match that left mixed feelings. Still, the result wasn’t all bad: Palmeiras and Porto also played to a scoreless 0-0 draw, which means all four teams in Group A sit on one point after the opening round.
With the standings wide open, Inter Miami now has a clear chance to take the group lead if they can secure a win against the Portuguese side in their next match. It won’t be an easy task, but Macherano’s squad knows everything is still up for grabs. Tough? Yes. Impossible? Not at all.
Porto managed to escape with a goalless draw against Palmeiras in a match where luck seemed to be on their side. While their performance left room for improvement, the Portuguese side is still seen as a step above their MLS opponents.
On paper, Porto enters the upcoming clash as the clear favorite. Their tactical discipline and European experience should give them the edge, even if Lionel Messi manages to produce one of his trademark moments of brilliance. For Inter Miami, it will take more than magic — it will require a complete team effort to pull off an upset.
How to watch Inter Miami vs. FC Porto
Time: Thrusday, June 19, 3 pm ET
Venue: Hard Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta).
TV & streaming in the US: TBS, Univision, TUDN, DAZN
Inter Miami vs. FC Porto projected lineups
Mascherano is expected to stick with his preferred 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1 formation, which he used in the first game against the Egyptian team Al-Haly. Messi, Busquets and Suárez all will remain in the starting eleven. And Jordi Alba has returned to training and is expected to get back into the XI.
David Ruiz (hamstring, doubt), Yannick Bright (hamstring), Gonzalo Lujan (hamstring) and Drake Callender (hernia) are still on the injured list.
Porto’s head coach, Martin Anselmi, is likely to continue with his preferred 3-4-3 setup, which provides a strong midfield and very vertical wings with Moura and Joao Mario to give it depth.
Porto enters their second group-stage match with minimal injury concerns, but the absence of two key players could still have an impact — particularly in goal. Starting goalkeeper Diogo Costa, a mainstay for both club and country, was ruled out just before the tournament opener due to an adductor injury. The timeline for his recovery remains uncertain, casting doubt over his availability for the rest of the competition.
Also missing is Serbian midfielder Marko Grujić, who continues to struggle with a lingering heel injury that sidelined him for most of last season. Grujić was not included in Porto’s tournament squad, as he remains out of contention for the foreseeable future.
Inter Miami projected lineup (4-3-3/4231, right to left)
Oscar Ustari (GK) - Marcelo Weigandt, Tomas Aviles, Maxi Falcon, Jori Alba - Federico Redondo, Sergio Busquets - Fafa Picault, Telasco Segovia, Lionel Messi - Luis Suarez
Porto projected lineup (3-4-3, right to left)
Claudio Ramos (GK) - Martim Fernandes, Ze Pedro Figueiredo - Joao Mario Lopes, Alan Verela, Gabriel Veiga, Moura - Fabio Vieira, Samu Omorodion, Rodrigo Mora
Inter Miami vs. FC Porto predicton
Inter Miami will be disappointed not to have scored in their opener because the chances of them progressing now are slim. The Herons will be quite overmatched here, especially given their very thin defensive line.
Porto were somewhat lucky to emerge with their own scoreless draw against Palmeiras, but they are significantly better than their MLS opponents and should have no problems getting past this match, even if Messi conjures up something special.