Inter Miami v Tigres match preview
After dragging themselves past the rock-bottom team in the MLS on Saturday, Inter Miami can take a step towards winning a second Leagues Cup title in three seasons when they host Liga MX team Tigres in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Half-time substitute Lionel Messi struck in the 84th minute and set up Luis Suarez’s 89th-minute goal in the Herons’ 3-1 home win over LAFC, but the captain and MLS top scorer was clearly suffering with a leg problem that had kept him out of much of their previous three games, Miami winning one of those matches over 90 minutes.
Tigres’ perfect run of three wins to start their domestic season ended with a 3-1 home defeat against Club America on Saturday, when forward Angel Correa failed to score after a run of five goals in four games in all competitions.
Correa won the 2022 World Cup as part of an Argentina squad featuring Messi and new Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul and started the season alongside the midfielder and Suarez at Atletico Madrid.
📹 ¡Trabajando con la mira puesta en nuestro partido del miércoles en @LeaguesCup! 💥 pic.twitter.com/LyJzv1BhHb
— Club Tigres 🐯 (@TigresOficial) August 19, 2025
“Angel was a key signing for Tigres and is a player who can make a big difference,” said Miami manager Javier Mascherano.
“He moves very well and is capable of hurting you. We will do our best to neutralize him.
“They have a lot of very good attackers. Angel can play up top along with wingers who are very dangerous.
“If you allow them to have possession of the ball, they will make it difficult for you. We must try to manage the pace of the game, be protagonists and maintain possession.”
Correa, who won the Europa League and LaLiga and reached the Champions League final during 11 years with Atleti, was predictably diplomatic when he was asked for his thoughts.
“I am going to be facing great friends and former teammates and it will be nice to say hello to them,” said the 30-year-old.
“But you can be sure they will be motivated to win the game, just as we will.”
New Tigres manager Guido Pizarro was a Mexican champion across two playing spells lasting a total of 11 years with Tigres, as well as winning four Argentina caps between 2017 and 2019.
“He’s a guy who is really good and showed up humble, ready to add to the group and making himself available,” Pizarro said of Correa.
“We’re lucky to have him and hopefully we can keep enjoying him.”
Inter Miami v Tigres team news
Mascherano says Messi is “not ruled out” but the 38-year-old’s involvement will depend on how he feels, with the Miami Herald reporting that he trained individually on Tuesday.
Goalkeeper Drake Callender joined Charlotte this week for $400,000 in general allocation money for 2025 and $350,000 for 2026, alongside a potential $75,000 in conditional general allocation money.
Former Atletico Madrid forward Nicolas Ibanez returned in attack for Tigres against Club America, having missed their preceding 7-0 home win over Puebla.
Ex-Uruguay midfielder Fernando Gorriaran also came in but Pizarro could be tempted to make changes following their first damaging result of the campaign.
Inter Miami v Tigres predicted line-ups
Inter Miami starting XI: Ustari, Fray, Falcon, Allen, Alba, Busquets, Bright, Allende, De Paul, Suarez, Messi
Tigres starting XI: Guzman, Garza, Purata, Romulo, Aquino, Lainez, Gorriaran, Brunetta, Herrera, Correa, Ibanez
How to watch Inter Miami v Tigres: Live stream, TV channel
Kick-off on Wednesday is at 20:00 ET (15:00 PT on Wednesday/ 01:00 on Thursday BST), with live coverage available through the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.
In the US, a subscription costs $14.99 a month or $69 a season. Existing Apple TV+ subscribers pay $12.99 per month or $59 a season.
Inter Miami v Tigres stats
With Messi and Suarez absent, Miami lost 2-1 to Tigres on Matchday 3 in Houston in the 2024 competition
Miami have won all five of their other games against Mexican teams in the Leagues Cup, including all three of their home games
De Paul has three assists and one goal in five Miami appearances since signing on loan from Atleti
Messi has 25 goals and 11 assists in 32 appearances in all competitions this season
Miami are unbeaten in eight home games in all competitions, winning seven times along the way
Messi’s goal against the Galaxy made the Argentina icon the second-fastest player in MLS history to reach 40 career goals, in 44 matches (Josef Martinez holds the record, on 42).
No player has bettered Correa’s four goals in this season’s competition, putting him level with Toluca’s Paulinho
Tigres scored the most goals (7) and had the best goal difference (+3) of any of the four teams to advance from the Liga MX section
All three of their games have been against MLS teams, beating Houston 4-1 and San Diego 2-1 before losing 2-1 to LAFC on Matchday 3
Fellow last-16 qualifiers Toluca are the only team to have matched Tigres’ tally of 13 goals in this season’s Liga MX
Inter Miami v Tigres prediction
Much can always depend on Messi’s fitness – Miami’s record without their talisman could generously be termed mixed – but perhaps their most impressive result across his recent absences was their 3-1 win over Pumas, when Suarez, De Paul and Tadeo Allende stepped up to show there is South American life in the side when their top scorer is not around.
Miami should have enough to go through in high-scoring fashion – possibly 3-2 – but more goals for Correa are likely against a defence with one clean sheet in 14 matches in all competitions.
The winners of the tie will face Orlando City, who have beaten Miami twice this season, or Toluca in the semi-finals on August 26 or 27.
