Lionel Messi hopes to help Inter Miami advance past Atlanta United in the second MLS Cup Playoff game on Saturday night.
Game 2 of their best-of-three, first-round series begins at 7 p.m. ET inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game will be available to live stream for free via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Messi had an assist, but didn’t score as Inter Miami beat Atlanta 2-1 to win Game 1 on Oct. 25. He’s expected to captain Inter Miami in tonight’s match.
Nearly 70,000 fans are expected to attend tonight’s Atlanta-Inter Miami match, the second match in a tripleheader of MLS playoff games Saturday.
Follow along here for live updates from USA TODAY Sports on Saturday night.
How to watch Atlanta vs. Inter Miami free live stream
The match is available on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass.
Is Messi playing tonight?
Yes, Messi is expected to start for Inter Miami’s game in Atlanta.
Atlanta vs. Inter Miami betting odds
Moneyline: Inter Miami (-110); Atlanta (+230); Tie after regulation (+300)
Over/under: 3.5 goals
Betting odds provided by BETMGM.
Inter Miami players to watch
Messi and Luis Suarez led Inter Miami with 20 goals each during the 2024 MLS season, becoming the first pair of teammates to accomplish the feat. Suarez scored in the second minute against Atlanta in Game 1, while Messi is still looking for his first goal in the MLS playoffs.
Atlanta United players to watch
Top goal scorer Saba Lobjanidze has scored four goals in three matches against Inter Miami this season, including the equalizer in Game 1. Also, keep an eye on goalie Brad Guzan, who had eight saves and kept Messi at bay in Game 1.
If Atlanta United wins tonight
Atlanta would force Game 3 in the first-round series to be played at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on Nov. 9.
If Inter Miami wins tonight
Inter Miami would advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, awaiting the winner between No. 4 Orlando City and No. 5 Charlotte.
MLS Cup Playoff Picture
The second leg of the first round continues with three matches on Saturday, and another tripleheader Sunday.
L.A. Galaxy, the No. 2 seed in the West, became the first team to advance to the semifinals Friday night, beating No. 7 seed Colorado 4-1 to win their first-round series. Meanwhile, Charlotte forced Game 3 with a penalty shootout victory at home against No. 4 Orlando City.
The third game for each first-round series, if necessary, will be played Nov. 8-10.
MLS Cup Playoff games on Saturday
New York City vs. FC Cincinnati, 5 p.m. ET (Cincinnati leads 1-0)
Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami, 7 p.m. ET (Inter Miami leads 1-0)
Minnesota vs. Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m. ET (Minnesota leads 1-0)
MLS Cup Playoff games on Sunday
New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew, 4:30 p.m. ET (New York leads 1-0)
Houston Dynamo vs. Seattle Sounders, 6:30 p.m. ET (Seattle leads 1-0)
Vancouver vs. LAFC, 8:45 p.m. ET (LAFC leads 1-0)
When is the MLS Cup Playoff Semifinals?
The conference semifinals will be Nov. 23-24 after a FIFA international window.
When is the MLS Cup Playoff Conference Finals?
The Eastern and Western Conference Finals will be played Nov. 30-Dec. 1.
When is the MLS Cup final?
The MLS Cup final will be played on Dec. 7.
