Three Players to Watch: Inter Miami
(image via Inter Miami CF)
Each week we’ll be looking more into the Houston Dynamo’s opponent, talking to media that covers the team, digging into what we can expect from that squad, and in this series, taking a look at three players to watch from the upcoming opponent. Inter Miami comes to Shell Energy Stadium Sunday for a marquee match up and rematch of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final.
We all know that we can’t make a list like this without mentioning Lionel Messi. I get it; he sits atop the pantheon of greatness in football and will naturally make a massive impact in this game. But, here are three players to look out for BESIDES MESSI!
Luis Suarez
Suarez is a no-nonsense striker who backs up his bark with bite. Having proven himself in Spain, England, and now MLS, he’s a physically dominant player who excels in systems that provide him with opportunities. While he may not have the speed of a Fafa Picault, he’s as patient as they come when it comes to seizing chances in the box. Suarez scored 20 goals in 27 MLS appearances and is poised to replicate that success in the 2025 season. He's a serious threat, and Houston can't afford to give him an inch of space—he’ll take a mile if they do.
Telasco Segovia
Segovia debuted against NYCFC last weekend and showed what he was brought in as one of Miami’s newest threats. His effectiveness brings a lot of energy and pace to support Messi and Sergio Busquets in a midfield that lacked pace in the 2024 season. His time in MLS started with an extra time equalizer that, despite its controversies due to the amount of added time, left no doubt of his quality of finish and positioning. Considering the Dynamo’s midfield showed some major communication issues during their Texas derby matchup, Segovia is primed to pick off any mistakes that the Dynamo place on Miami’s platter. The Venezuelan is also a good compliment to Busquets as they provided a lot of good combination play in the Concacaf Champions Cup, and Miami benefited from it, getting past Sporting Kansas City in the first round of the tournament.
Jordi Alba
I inevitably have to mention at least one of the Barcelona Boys when talking about Miami. Alba could be key for the Dynamo to sneak a win in this match. In their last outing, he had one of his most defensively shaky performances during his time in Miami, which could provide a clear opportunity for the Dynamo to exploit. The strategy is simple: keep the ball away from Alba and attack his wing with pace. If the Dynamo execute this, they’ll have a reliable attacking approach that could do some real damage to the Herons. While the Barcelona legend has his defensive liabilities, he’s still one of the most offensively capable fullbacks in MLS, contributing significantly to Miami’s attack despite his occasional defensive struggles.