The 37-year-old is still scoring goals | Courtesy of Inter Miami CF

In this edition of Oppo Research, Hudson River Blue spoke with Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald to learn more about Inter Miami, New York City FC’s opponent on Saturday. Here is your NYCFC vs Inter Miami preview.

1. Expectations are sky-high in Miami

Hudson River Blue: Inter Miami started the season mostly as expected despite the poor losses to the Red Bulls and CF Montréal.

Michelle Kaufman: Expectations this year are sky-high. With Messi, Busquets, Alba, and Suarez all back together again, and with a full preseason with Inter Miami and coach Tata Martino, and some new talented young additions, the hope was this team would be competing for Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, and MLS Cup this year.

The team is undefeated in five games with Messi this season, but has lost two of three without him, showing that this season will not be as easy for Miami as some people might have thought.

2. Injuries have taken a toll

HRB: Miami has been hit with the injury bug. Lionel Messi, Benjamin Cremaschi, Facundo Farias, and others all missed multiple games this season. How has that affected the team, especially with the midweek CONCACAF Champions Cup games?

MK: Yes, injuries have hurt Miami, especially with the jam-packed schedule, the main one being Messi. When he plays, it is a different team than when he doesn’t. Although he is just one player, he not only provides magic on his own, or at least the promise of magic, but he elevates all his teammates with his presence on the field. He injects them with confidence and when he is not there, you can detect a bit of a dip in energy or confidence.

Cremaschi was a big loss, but he is back in training this week and should be returning sometime in the next several weeks. They need his young legs and energy in the midfield, along with Fede Redondo and Diego Gomez, both of whom were missing for national team duty against Red Bulls. With the schedule being so crowded with cups, Tata Martino has to decide each game which roster to go with, and he has said the most “urgent” game will take priority, in other words, the must-win Cup games take priority over early-season MLS games because the MLS season is so long and there is time to catch up. Not do-or-die like Champions Cup.

3. Luis Suarez = goals

HRB: Luis Suarez has started the season off with four goals and three assists. Heading into the season, his fitness was a question mark, and many people thought he would not be able to handle the intensity of the league. How has Suarez been able to adapt to the league so quickly?

MK: Suarez still seems to limp and hobble at times, but he is lethal around the goal and anywhere close to the goal. He is a great finisher, and has proven that his entire career. He does not need to be a speedster in order to help this team. He just needs to put the ball in the back of the net.

4. The X-Factor: Lionel Messi’s availability

HRB: What’s the X-factor that could decide this game?

MK: The X-factor is whether Messi plays or not. If he plays, Miami should win. If he doesn’t, Miami still should win, but it won’t be as easy. NYCFC may be playing with more urgency, and Inter Miami has a Champions Cup quarterfinal vs Monterrey next Wednesday.

5. Predicted Starting XI

HRB: Prediction time: Starting XI? Final score?

MK: Final Score: Inter Miami 2, NYCFC 1