Superior statistics — and the attention check — recommend that let a possibility slip away within the first leg of its CONCACAF Champions Cup spherical of 16 sequence in opposition to Inter Miami.
Nashville outshot Miami 15-8, earned seven corners to the Herons’ one and compelled goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair to make 5 saves, whereas counterpart Brian Schwake wanted to cease just one shot. Per FotMob, Nashville additionally , which measures the chance of a aim being scored primarily based on the place and the way the shot was taken, in comparison with Inter Miami’s 0.32.
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The primary leg at Geodis Park on March 11 as Nashville could not capitalize on its possibilities. Nevertheless it nonetheless believes it is in good place in opposition to Lionel Messi and Miami heading into the second leg at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on March 18 (6 p.m. CT, FS2).
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Finest pictures from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: German Berterame #19 of Inter Miami CF and Jeisson Palacios #4 of Nashville SC compete for the ball throughout the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Pictures)
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Finest pictures from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: German Berterame #19 of Inter Miami CF and Jeisson Palacios #4 of Nashville SC compete for the ball throughout the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Pictures)
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Finest pictures from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF enters the pitch previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Pictures)
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Finest pictures from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Hany Mukhtar #10 of Nashville SC leads the staff out previous to previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Pictures)
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Finest pictures from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF enters the pitch previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Pictures)
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Finest pictures from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF greets Andy Najar #31 of Nashville SC previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Pictures)
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Finest pictures from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF warms up previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Pictures)
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Finest pictures from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Hany Mukhtar #10 of Nashville SC warms up previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Pictures)
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Finest pictures from Nashville SC vs Inter Miami, Lionel Messi in CONCACAF Champions Cup
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF warms up previous to the CONCACAF Champions Cup 2026 match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at GEODIS Park on March 11, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photograph by Chris Carter/Getty Pictures)
“They have been the MLS Cup champion final 12 months, they usually’ve superior far on this event, and getting to arrange in opposition to them continuously brings out the very best in us,” Nashville coach B.J. Callaghan mentioned March 17. “It makes us elevate our sport. I feel you’ve got continually seen that in the way in which we’re in a position to adapt and alter and compete, and I do not suppose there’s gonna be something completely different.”
Nashville will advance to the quarterfinals with a win and be eradicated with a loss. If the match is tied 0-0 after 90 minutes, it would go to additional time and doubtlessly penalties; some other tie after regulation would end in Nashville advancing attributable to having extra away targets than Miami.
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Nashville got here near scoring on quite a few events throughout the first leg, with St. Clair making robust saves on pictures from , Hany Mukhtar and Reed Baker-Whiting. Mukhtar and additionally missed the web on wide-open pictures from shut vary within the second half.
“We knew that we had some possibilities, and we want to have received, however that is how we really feel about each single sport,” midfielder Alex Muyl mentioned. “We wish to win each single sport. And I do not suppose we’re kicking ourselves, as a result of we’re in a fantastic place to go on the market and advance on this event. I do not suppose we’ve any regrets. If something, we’re simply wanting on the sport with optimism on the truth that we have been in a position to create some issues.”
Whereas Messi entered the primary leg with 15 targets in his 10 profession matches in opposition to Nashville, he was held to just one shot and fewer touches than regular. Nashville held him scoreless for simply the second time ever whereas additionally retaining forwards German Berterame and Tadeo Allende in verify.
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“Whenever you play in opposition to Miami, you must be actually organized and disciplined defensively, as a result of they’ve plenty of choices,” Callaghan mentioned. “I believed once we evaluated the sport, there have been some actually good moments of us defending as a gaggle and defending with numbers.”
Nashville has misplaced its previous 5 matches at Chase Stadium, and Inter Miami has eradicated it from 4 completely different competitions since 2023 — the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, 2023 Leagues Cup, 2024 Champions Cup and 2025 MLS playoffs. It is attempting to method the second leg not as an opportunity for revenge, however as a clear slate.
“We now have a extremely constructive feeling about this group this 12 months, concerning the steps we have taken and the expansion we have had,” Muyl mentioned. “We do not have to suppose an excessive amount of concerning the previous and fear concerning the previous, as a result of that does not actually assist us in any respect.”