The Lionel Messi North American era begins Friday when the forward’s new team Inter Miami CF faces Cruz Azul in Leauges Cup action at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The match begins at 8 p.m. ET (MLS Season Pass on Apple TV/Univision and FUBO TV). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Cruz Azul vs. Inter Miami odds, and make our best soccer bets, picks and predictions.
Cruz Azul of the Mexican Liga BBVA MX will be glad to get a respite from the Torneo Apertura. It’s off to an 0-3 start to open the new Liga MX season, and it has been outscored 6-1, ranking last in the league in goal differential.
Inter Miami is almost in the same boat, sitting 2nd to last in the MLS’ Eastern Conference with a 5-14-3 (W-L-D) record. Miami is also 2nd to last in goal differential at -14.
Keeping his promise to make Inter Miami relevant — and bring “the greatest players in the world to [Miami]” — team president and co-owner David Beckham helped the club sign Messi to a 2½-year contract that will pay the recent World Cup winner from Argentina between $50 million and $60 million annually.
While Messi likely won’t start Friday, he is expected to play. The same goes for MF Sergio Busquets, the Spanish star who also signed a 2½-year contract with Inter Miami last week after playing 15 seasons for Barcelona.
Messi and Busquets, who were Barcelona teammates for 13 seasons, have already practiced with their new Miami teammates, and while Friday won’t be their MLS debut, it will be their first action on the pitch for Inter Miami.
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Cruz Azul vs. Inter Miami odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 11:46 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Cruz Azul +210 (bet $100 to win $210) | Inter Miami +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Draw +250
- Over/Under: 2.5 (O: -118 | U: -118)
- Both teams to score?: (Yes: -144 | No: +112)
Cruz Azul vs. Inter Miami picks and predictions
Prediction
Inter Miami 2, Cruz Azul 1
Moneyline (ML)
BACK INTER MIAMI (+105). The atmosphere will be electric in Fort Lauderdale as Messi makes his long-awaited North American debut. It will be just the shot in the arm that this club needs.
Another good bet to make is YES (-144): BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE as neither side is particularly strong on the defensive end. Miami has conceded 36 goals in 22 MLS matches, while Cruz Azul has coughed up 6 goals in 3 Liga MX matches.
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Over/Under (O/U)
Side with OVER 2.5 (-118), although it should be played very lightly.
Cruz Azul is the concern as it has found the back of the net just once in its 3 league matches.
Inter Miami can score, notching 22 goals in 22 matches. Adding Messi, the 7-time Ballon d’Or winner — the trophy awarded annually to the world’s best player — will certainly help pump up the offense even more. Meanwhile, Miami has had problems on defense, and that’s always a nice combination for the Over.
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