Inter Miami can cut Nashville SC’s lead at the top of the Eastern Conference when the two sides meet at Nu Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Herons were held to a 1-1 draw by Chicago Fire in midweek, while Nashville suffered a 2-1 defeat away to Toronto, bringing their lengthy unbeaten run to an end.

Inter Miami appeared to have turned a corner when they thrashed CF Montreal 7-1, but the Herons have since dropped points in consecutive league matches.

A 2-2 draw with Atlanta United was followed by the 1-1 stalemate with Chicago, leaving Miami nine points behind Nashville at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Miami remain the highest-scoring team in MLS this season, having found the net 59 times, while they are averaging 2.5 goals per league game.

They have also scored in every regular-season home match at Nu Stadium this year and are second in MLS for expected goals with 51.3.

Nashville’s defeat to Toronto ended a six-match unbeaten run in MLS and marked their first league loss since late July.

Despite that setback, BJ Callaghan’s side remain top of the Eastern Conference and nine points clear of Miami, while they also have the best defensive record in MLS after conceding just 19 goals.

Inter Miami v Nashville MLS team news

Inter Miami could be without several players for Saturday’s meeting.

Mateo Silvetti is dealing with a shoulder problem, while Sergio Reguilon has a hamstring issue and Micael is nursing an ankle problem.

Santiago Morales is also carrying a quad strain, while Gonzalo Lujan is recovering from a lower-leg injury and Tadeo Allende remains sidelined with a knee problem.

Nashville are expected to be without Warren Madrigal because of a lower-body problem.

Jack Maher, Dan Lovitz and Matthew Corcoran all came into the starting XI against Toronto, and Callaghan could retain those changes for the trip to Florida.

Inter Miami v Nashville predicted line ups

Inter Miami: St. Clair; Fray, Casemiro, Falcon, Caicedo; De Paul, Bright, Segovia; Messi, Suarez, Pinter

Nashville SC: Schwake; Najar, Maher, Woledzi, Baker-Whiting; Yazbek, Tagseth, Saad; Espinoza, Surridge, Mukhtar

Inter Miami v Nashville stats, MLS form

• Inter Miami have won 10 wins to six for Nashville in the 22 meetings between the teams, although their only victory over 90 minutes in the last seven editions of the fixture was a 2-1 away victory in last season’s MLS
• The Herons have played the highest percentage of long balls in this season’s MLS (53.55%), 0.1% ahead of Vancouver
• Having received 66 bookings, they are one of three teams to have received more than 60 yellow cards before the latest round of games, alongside Colorado (61) and Dallas (60)
• Their total of 59 goals in this season’s MLS is seven ahead of the next-highest scorers in the division, Vancouver
• With 16 goals, Lionel Messi is the top scorer in the history of the fixture – eight ahead of Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar
• Casemiro’s equaliser in Miami’s 1-1 draw at Chicago on Thursday was the third successive match in which the midfielder has scored
• Nashville’s total of 12 away goals in this season’s MLS is better than only six teams, while Dallas and San Jose (24 each) and Miami (27) have bettered their tally of 19 points on the road, although they have played at least one fewer such game than each of those clubs
• Only Cincinnati (43.8%), the LA Galaxy (42.4%) and New York City (41.5%) have a higher attempt accuracy than Nashville (41%) in 2026
• Goalkeeper Brian Schwake is one of 12 players to have featured in every minute of their club’s MLS campaign
• Defender Maxwell Woledzi (1,517) has completed the sixth-most passes in the 2026 MLS, attempting 1,594
• Cristian Espinoza (30) is one of eight players to have delivered at least 30 successful crosses, while only Messi has bettered the forward’s total of 11 assists

Where to watch Miami v Nashville: TV channel, live online streams

Kick-off on Saturday is at 19:30 ET (16:30 PT / 00:30 on Sunday BST), with live coverage available through Apple TV.

In the US, a subscription costs $12.99 a month or $99.99 a year. Those prices are £8.99 a month or £89.99 a year in the UK. A seven-day free trial is available.

Inter Miami v Nashville prediction

Nashville’s defensive record makes them difficult to overcome, but their away form has been far less convincing than their overall record suggests.

Miami have also struggled for consistency over the last fortnight, yet their attacking quality gives them an advantage at home, particularly with Messi and Casemiro both in good form.

Inter Miami

2 – 1

Nashville SC

MLS table