Preview: Inter Miami vs Nashville SC (Round One Game 3)

On Saturday, Nashville SC will take on Inter Miami for the final and decisive game of their Round One MLS Cup Playoffs series. With the series split at one win apiece, whoever earns the victory on Saturday will advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Can Nashville pull off a monumental upset and send Miami packing in Round One for the second year on a row? Or will Lionel Messi take over the game and power the favorites through at home?

After meeting on Decision Day, this will be the fourth time in a row the pair of 2020 expansion sides have played each other. Tensions are high, the season is at stake, and there's a growing and genuine dislike on the pitch. Expect fireworks on the pitch.

Match info

Teams: Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC
Referees: Rosendo Mendoza (Ref), Kyle Atkins (AR1), Kathryn Nesbitt (AR2), Ricardo Montero Araya (4th), Timothy Ford (VAR), TJ Zablocki (AVAR)
Odds: MIA (-205), Draw (+380), NSH (+400)
Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm CT, Chase Stadium, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, United States
TV: MLS Season Pass – Apple TV (Free)
Apple TV Commentary: Jake Zivin, Taylor Twellman & Antonella Gonzalez (English), Sammy Sadovnik & Diego Valeri (Spanish)
Radio: 104.5 The Zone, Sirius XM FC Channel 157 (English), Sirixus XM Soccer En Espanol Channel 1999 (Spanish)
Radio Commentary (104.5): Will Boling & Eddie Carvacho
Forecast: 85º/72º. 78º at kickoff. Sunny. 2-7 mph winds. 0% chance of rain. 70% humidity.

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Head-to-head

Availability report

Availability Report: Inter Miami CF vs Nashville SC (MLS Cup Playoffs)

Could Dan Lovitz return for Game 3 of this playoff series?

SixOneFive SoccerSixOneFive Soccer Staff

Inter Miami

The numbers

Inter Miami snapshot

The biggest Miami news this week is the suspension of Luis Suárez. The former Liverpool and Barcelona star was retroactively handed a single-match ban by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for an off-the-ball kick out at Nashville defender Andy Nájar.

Inter Miami’s Luis Suárez suspended for Saturday’s playoff match against Nashville SC

The Miami striker fined and suspended for violent conduct against Nashville SC’s Andy Nájar during the second leg of their playoff series

SixOneFive SoccerBen Wright

Miami have been vocally upset about the suspension, issuing a midweek statement saying that they hope "the same standard will be applied" to other players in similar instances. They've already had to play without Suárez this fall, after the Uruguayan international received a three-match ban for spitting on a member of the Seattle Sounders' staff.

In those matches, head coach Javier Mascherano switched to a 4-4-2 initially, playing Lionel Messi as a second striker alongside Tadeo Allende. In the second two matches, he used their typical 4-3-3 setup, but with Messi operating as a "false nine" and left back Jordi Alba in a more advanced role on the left wing.

There's an argument to be made that Miami are better without Suárez. They're certainly more mobile without the 38-year-old up front, giving them more of a threat in behind. However, Suárez has been a crucial piece of their attack this year. Both his actual production (10 goals, 11 assists) and his near telepathic connection with Messi have been a pivotal piece of Mascherano's blueprint.

Even without Suárez, Miami have loads of young, attacking depth. 22-year-old Baltasar Rodríguez has been a regular in the starting lineup since joining on loan from Racing Club, while 19-year-old Mateo Silvetti came off the bench for a long second-half shift in Nashville. Mascherano has plenty of options, and this side is still imposingly dangerous.

Predicted XI

Nashville SC

The numbers

Nashville SC snapshot

For Nashville, the gameplan is simple: keep Lionel Messi quiet and finish chances.

In the last three matches, Messi has scored six goals. The 'Yotes kept him quiet until the 90th minute of their 2-1 win last time out, and his brace in Miami in the first leg of the series was fully self-inflicted. Nashville can't afford to give up chances like this. They did a much better job cutting out uncharacteristic mistakes last weekend, but it's a different test entirely to maintain that level of defensive solidity on the road.

At the other end of the pitch, Nashville can't let any chances go to waste. In all three of these matches, they've left major chances go missing. From the bevy of chances they missed on Decision Day, to two early looks from Jacob Shaffelburg that were left wanting in the first leg, or a skied effort from Sam Surridge in the second leg, Nashville have created more than enough chances to put all three games to bed early. They haven't.

You cannot let this Miami team stick around. If Nashville miss chances, it will cost them.

Dan Lovitz missed the last match with an ankle injury, and Josh Bauer put in a match-winning performance in his place. While BJ Callaghan has confirmed that Lovitz is available, he may opt to stick with Bauer and the additional defensive solidity on the road.

Predicted XI

Staff predictions

Ben Wright

Score: MIA 2–3 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar, Walker Zimmerman
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: There are at least seven yellow cards and one red card in this match.

Chris Ivey

Score: MIA 3–3 NSH (Miami win in penalties)
Scorers: Sam Surridge, Hany Mukhtar (x2)
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: It's a wild match with a late equalizer, but Nashville fall short in penalty kicks.

Jeff Remlinger

Score: MIA 3–1 NSH
Scorers: Sam Surridge
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: I got my bold prediction correct last week and I'm going to run it back. There will be a goal in the first 15 minutes. The team that scores it will win.

Valair Shabilla

Score: MIA 2–1 NSH
Scorers: Hany Mukhtar
MOTM: Hany Mukhtar
Bold prediction: Miami go up 2-0 and Nashville fight back, but can't find an equalizer.

Fan forecast

Pre-match media