Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Leagues Cup clash between Puebla and Inter Miami, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Inter Miami will begin defence of their Leagues Cup crown when they face Puebla at Chase Stadium in the opening match for both sides at that tournament.
The Herons are on a two-match MLS winning run, defeating the Chicago Fire 2-1 last week, while La Franja are winless in three successive Liga MX affairs, losing 2-1 to Atlas.
Match preview
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Puebla have often been late bloomers in the 2024 Apertura, with three of their five goals scored in that competition occurring beyond the 85th minute, two in stoppage time.
That has them on four points after four league fixtures, as Jose Manuel de la Torre‘s men currently sit 12th in the table.
Only one point currently separates them from Atletico San Luis and a domestic playoff berth, with this side losing their only away match of that competition to Necaxa (4-1).
Defensive issues have often held them back domestically, with this side conceding the joint-second most goals in the Apertura thus far (eight).
In their first Leagues Cup appearance last year, Puebla were eliminated in the group stage, losing 4-0 to Minnesota United and squandering a late lead against the Chicago Fire in a 1-1 draw.
Los Camoteros have not beaten an MLS side within 90 minutes on American soil in a while, defeating the now-defunct Chivas USA 2-1 at the North American SuperLiga tournament in 2010.
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A year ago, Inter Miami were the centre of attention at this tournament, with an array of global superstars at their disposal, many of whom were debuting for the club.
Throughout most of the 2024 campaign, Tata Martino‘s men have been the team to beat, leading the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings by five points over FC Cincinnati.
The Herons lead MLS in goals with 56, averaging 2.24 per game while holding an average of 2.12 points per game, the highest in the league.
While they have had their share of dramatic come-from-behind triumphs domestically this season, this team have only been behind in one of their last six MLS encounters, suffering a massive 6-1 defeat to FC Cincinnati.
Three of their last four domestic home contests ended with Miami collecting maximum points, while that other result was a 3-3 draw versus St Louis City.
Miami won their two group fixtures last year by a combined score of 6-1, while this club have never lost a Leagues Cup encounter.
Puebla form (all competitions):
Inter Miami form (all competitions):
Team News
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We saw two new faces in the Puebla starting 11 from matchday three to four of the 2024 Apertura as Efrain Orona and Pablo Gonzalez replaced Sebastian Olmedo and Kevin Velasco.
Santiago Ormeno made his first appearance of the 2024 Apertura campaign on matchday four, coming on just before the hour mark.
Lucas Cavallini had their only goal against Atlas, giving him four for the season, even with Henry Martin of Club America in the Golden Boot race.
The top scorer at this tournament a year ago, Lionel Messi (10 goals), is questionable for Miami with an ankle injury, Serhiy Kryvtsov missed the previous encounter due to a knock, while Nicolas Freire and Facundo Farias have ACL issues.
Diego Gomez is in Paris for the Olympics, representing Paraguay, while Benjamin Cremaschi is with the USA for that competition.
Matias Rojas netted six minutes into their match against the Fire, while Jordi Alba secured the three points, scoring in the final 15 minutes.
Puebla possible starting lineup:
Rodriguez; Ferrareis, Gularte, Orona, Angulo; de Buen; Alvarez, Castillo, Garcia, Velasco; Cavallini
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Callender; Weigandt, Aviles, Fray, Alba; Redondo, Busquets, Rojas; Gressel, Suarez, Taylor
We say: Puebla 1-2 Inter Miami
The Herons have shown they can manage without Messi, who may not be available, but their attacking depth and ability to win close games has us tipping them to begin the Leagues Cup on a winning note.
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