Inter Miami are all set to play host to Liga MX giants CF Monterrey in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals Wednesday night at Chase Stadium.

The Herons will hope to have superstar Lionel Messi back in the side or at least in the squad, as they’ve lacked the creativity that the Barcelona legend brings. Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino’s side have managed just one win without Messi in the three games that he’s missed in MLS action. The south Florida side have had terrible luck with injuries early on in the 2024 season but they’ll still be aiming high in the most prestigious club competition in North American football.

On the other side of the tie, Rayados were just about storming though each Liga MX opponent before crumbling at the hands of Chivas de Guadalajara this past weekend. It was Fernando ‘Tano’ Ortiz’s first defeat of the campaign after an unbeaten run of 16 games in all competitions in 2024. With Brandon Vazquez and German Berterame to start up front, Rayados will look to inflict damage on an injury-riddled Miami defense.

Here’s 90min’s preview of the clash between the two North American giants.

This is the first-ever meeting between Inter Miami and Monterrey.

Messi looks to be game-time decision for Miami come Wednesday night as he’s still dealing with a lingering hamstring injury. However, Martino himself confirmed before the clash with NYCFC that the medical team were doing everything possible to have the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner fit for the quarterfinal matchup with Rayados.

Nicolas Freire and Serhiy Kryvstov are both doubts for the contest as they’re also recovering from hamstring injuries and both missed out against NYCFC.

Benjamin Cremaschi has returned to training but wasn’t present Martino’s squad in their 1-1 draw with NYCFC at the weekend.

Inter Miami predicted lineup vs Monterrey (3-5-2): Callender; Sailor, Aviles, Allen; Weigandt, Ruiz, Busquets, Gomez, Alba; Suarez, Campana.

Monterrey boss Ortiz will be delighted that there are no new injuries within his squad ahead of their trip to Chase Stadium.

Monterrey predicted lineup vs Inter Miami (4-2-3-1): Andrada; Aguirre, Guzman, Moreno, Gallardo; Rodriguez, Romo; Meza, Canales, Corona; Vazquez.

With Messi currently out of the Miami XI, the Herons face an uphill battle against a Rayados team that’s been on a tear in 2024. Ortiz’s side are one of the best teams in all of North America, while Miami have been inconsistent for large parts of the MLS season due to injuries.

Monterrey will storm out of the gates with two vital first-half away goals before the hosts pull one back in the second 45. Even though the Herons are strong at their home ground, Monterrey have too much quality to not come away with the victory in this one.

Prediction: Inter Miami 1-2 Monterrey