Javier Mascherano is hoping his team can continue to build on their Club World Cup run in the MLS after returning to league action last weekend.
Mascherano watched on as Miami thrashed CF Montreal 4-1, with Lionel Messi scoring twice while also assisting Tadeo Allende for the equalising goal.
The Herons reached the round of 16 of the Club World Cup before being knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain, but produced a string of impressive displays in the tournament.
And Mascherano said his side must continue to maintain that level moving forward, starting with a trip to the Gillette Stadium to face the New England Revolution this week.
“It wasn’t easy to get back into the competition after spending a month playing at the Club World Cup, and I think the players handled it perfectly,” Mascherano said.
“The team had to work hard to turn it around, and they did an excellent job – right in line with the level we showed throughout the Club World Cup.”
Their clash with the Revolution is the second game of a busy month for Miami, who play five more league games as they aim to play catch up with the rest of the division.
Miami are sixth in the Eastern Conference, 10 points adrift of FC Cincinnati, but do have four games in hand on the league leaders and the sides above them.
“We now have a lot of games coming up in a short span, so we’re going to need the entire squad – every player has to be ready when called upon. That’s what it’s all about,” Mascherano added.
“I’ll say it again: This was a very important match, especially considering Montreal’s form, they were coming in strong. Regardless of how the match unfolded, I think the team rose to the occasion, played a great game, and deserved the win.”
C’est la vie What a night in Montreal pic.twitter.com/kWuBXYwD3j
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 6, 2025
For New England, meanwhile, their poor league run continued after they were beaten 2-1 by Portland Timbers last time out, with David da Costa scoring a late winner.
But the Revolution were perhaps unlucky not to come away with all three points, having registered an expected goals (xG) total of 1.61 from their 13 shots to Portland’s 0.99 from their 14 efforts.
It was a disappointing return to Portland for head coach Caleb Porter, who managed the Timbers from 2013 to 2017, and he is hoping for a response against Miami.
“It was a tough one to swallow because I thought we played extremely well on both sides of the ball,” Porter said. “I thought our mentality was excellent.
“For me, at 1-1, it was all us. It’s just really disappointing in the manner of how we conceded the second goal from our own attacking corner. It wasn’t the first time that it happened in the match, it was probably the third or fourth time.
“We recognised it, we made an adjustment, but in that play we rushed out, and we conceded the goal because of us not being good in that transition moment. That is the real disappointment because we played so well.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
NE Revolution – Carles Gil
Gil continued his fine run of form, notching his third assist in as many league games when setting up Luca Langoni against the Timbers last time out, taking his overall tally to seven.
He also finished the game with team-high totals for chances created (five), touches (103), accurate passes (73) and passes in the final third (37). This will be his 200th game for New England across all competitions.
The Spaniard has now been involved in five of the Revolution’s last six goals (one goal, four assists) and has been involved in 56% (14/25) of New England’s goals this season.
Inter Miami – Lionel Messi
Messi starred upon his return to MLS action, becoming the third player to record two goals and one assist in three consecutive league matches, and the first since Thierry Henry in 2012.
And you would expect the Argentine to continue that run here. Indeed, Messi has scored a brace and a hat-trick in his first two matches against New England.
He has scored multiple goals in three straight meetings with a team five times in his club career, all in Spain, while he’s recorded hat-tricks in two straight games against a team three different times, also all in Spain.
MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN
After their fine display at the Club World Cup, Miami will be looking to build momentum, with their win against Montreal extending their unbeaten stretch to four matches, a run only bettered by their first eight games of this season (W5 D3).
Miami have also had the better of this fixture, winning five of the eight all-time meetings (L3) and are unbeaten in their last two games against them, with their previous clash seeing Messi take centre stage with a hat-trick in a 6-2 rout back in October.
And Mascherano’s team come up against a New England side desperate for points. They have won just three of their last 15 home matches in all competitions dating back to last season (D6 L6), including going winless in five straight (D2 L3).
The Revs haven’t gone six or more consecutive home matches without a win in all competitions since a seven-match run in 2011.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
NE Revolution – 29.5%
Draw – 24.7%
Inter Miami – 45.8%
