Beating Lionel Messi in a cup last certainly wasn’t the one purpose traded for Reed Baker-Whiting. However it will probably’t have harm.
began at left again for the Seattle Sounders in final season’s Leagues Cup last, wherein Seattle defeated Messi’s Inter Miami 3-0.
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In his first recreation for his new membership, the 20-year-old helped Nashville on Feb. 24 at Geodis Park, wining its first-round CONCACAF Champions Cup sequence 7-0 on mixture to advance to the spherical of 16. Nashville’s opponent there’s one it is develop into .
Nashville will face Messi and Inter Miami in a two-legged sequence with the primary leg at residence on March 11 and the second leg in Florida on March 18. It is going to be the fifth cup competitors in as a few years wherein Nashville has drawn Miami, following the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, 2023 Leagues Cup last, 2024 Champions Cup and . Miami has gained all 4 to this point.
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See our greatest images from Nashville SC vs Atletico Ottawa in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Feb 24, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC defender defender Jordan Knight (23) and Ottawa defender Tyr Walker (4) heads the ball throughout the first half at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs
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See our greatest images from Nashville SC vs Atletico Ottawa in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Feb 24, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC defender defender Jordan Knight (23) and Ottawa defender Tyr Walker (4) heads the ball throughout the first half at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs
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See our greatest images from Nashville SC vs Atletico Ottawa in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Feb 24, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC defender defender Jordan Knight (23) celebrates his objective towards Ottawa throughout the first half at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs
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See our greatest images from Nashville SC vs Atletico Ottawa in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Feb 24, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC defender Jack Maher (5) passes the ball towards Ottawa throughout the first half at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs
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See our greatest images from Nashville SC vs Atletico Ottawa in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Feb 24, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Ottawa midfielder Gabriel Antinoro (11) and Nashville SC midfielder Matthew Corcoran (16) fights for the ball throughout the first half at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs
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See our greatest images from Nashville SC vs Atletico Ottawa in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Feb 24, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC midfielder Alex Muyl (19) celebrates along with his teammates after scoring a objective towards Ottawa throughout the first half at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs
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See our greatest images from Nashville SC vs Atletico Ottawa in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Feb 24, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC defender defender Jordan Knight (23) celebrates his objective towards Ottawa throughout the first half at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs
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See our greatest images from Nashville SC vs Atletico Ottawa in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Feb 24, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC defender defender Jordan Knight (23) celebrates his objective towards Ottawa throughout the first half at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs
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See our greatest images from Nashville SC vs Atletico Ottawa in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Feb 24, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC midfielder Bryan Acosta (6) dribbles the ball towards Ottawa throughout the first half at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs
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See our greatest images from Nashville SC vs Atletico Ottawa in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Feb 24, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC defender defender Jordan Knight (23) heads the ball into the face of Ottawa midfielder Gabriel Antinoro (11) throughout the first half at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs
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See our greatest images from Nashville SC vs Atletico Ottawa in CONCACAF Champions Cup
Feb 24, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC defender Reed Baker-Whiting (27) and Ottawa ahead Emiliano García (7) fights for the ball throughout the first half at GEODIS Park. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs
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“It is an ideal matchup to have,” Baker-Whiting stated. “Watching Nashville final yr, I really feel like they performed Miami 10 occasions. It is bought a bit of little bit of a rivalry to it. I am tremendous excited, the fellows are excited. We have got Dallas first, in order that’s the place our focus is at. The subsequent recreation is all the time crucial one. But it surely’s an ideal alternative, and we’re excited to go on the market.”
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Nashville has two MLS video games to get by way of earlier than Inter Miami involves city, at FC Dallas on Feb. 28 and towards Minnesota United on March 7. Previous to the second leg towards Ottawa, defender Jack Maher stated that going through Miami once more wasn’t on anybody’s thoughts.
“It is humorous, you see a group like Miami within the subsequent spherical, however I do not assume the phrase Miami has been uttered on this locker room one time,” Maher stated.
Messi scored 10 objectives in 5 video games towards Nashville in 2025, together with 5 throughout the best-of-three first-round sequence. However the defending MLS champions are loaded with expertise round him, having added final season’s MLS Goalkeeper of the 12 months, Dayne St. Clair, along with forwards Luis Suarez and German Berterame.
“When the time comes to begin the preparations for Miami, we all know that they’ve had some modifications to their roster, we’ll proceed to guage them like we do another group,” Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan stated. “Attempt to give you the very best recreation plan that we will that matches the way in which that we play. We look ahead to the chance, and we’re grateful.
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“It is a event that we take critically. We perceive the status of the event, and we look ahead to the chance from advancing to take them on.”