Nashville vs Inter Miami at GEODIS Park on Saturday evening in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoff Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Round One best-of-three playoff series.
Inter Miami leads 1-0 in the series following a dominant 3-1 victory at Chase Stadium on Friday, where Lionel Messi scored a stunning brace and Tadeo Allende added a third goal.
Nashville must secure a victory to force Game 3 on November 8, though they face the monumental task of containing eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, who just captured the 2025 MLS Golden Boot with 29 regular-season goals.
Inter Miami (No. 3 seed) is just one win from reaching the Conference Semifinals, where they’ll face either FC Cincinnati or Columbus Crew. Meanwhile, Nashville (No. 6 seed) endured their worst regular season in franchise history with 54 points (16W-12L-6D), but they showed resilience with Hany Mukhtar’s stunning stoppage-time free-kick in Game 1.
Nashville vs Inter Miami CF Match Information, Prediction, H2H, and Where to Watch
Match Info
Competition: Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference Round One (Best-of-3, Game 2)
Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025
Kick-off Time: 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT / 12:30 AM UTC (Sunday) / 6:00 AM IST (Sunday)
Venue: GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tennessee
Series Status: Inter Miami lead 1-0
Series Decider: If necessary, Game 3 will be held at Chase Stadium, Miami, on November 8
TV Coverage: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV), FOX Sports App
Inter Miami overwhelmed Nashville in Game 1 with a performance of technical excellence and clinical finishing. Messi’s opening goal in the 19th minute set the tone, arriving from a perfectly-weighted Luis Suárez assist after clever interplay between Suárez, Rodrigo De Paul, and goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo’s distribution.
Tadeo Allende doubled the advantage in the 62nd minute with a powerful header from Ian Fray’s cross, and Messi added his second late in the match to seal the victory despite Nashville being temporarily down to ten men following Jeisson Palacios’ mandatory two-minute medical timeout.
Messi’s Golden Boot award before kickoff celebrated his exceptional 29-goal regular season, and he immediately proved his worth in the biggest moments.
Nashville fought valiantly but fell short against superior opposition. Despite conceding three goals, the Boys in Gold demonstrated resilience with Hany Mukhtar’s sensational free-kick deep into stoppage time earning them a consolation goal.
Mukhtar has been Nashville’s creative heartbeat this season with 16 regular-season goals and 11 assists, and he will be crucial if Nashville are to stage an upset at home.
Head coach B.J. Callaghan took over in July 2024 and faces his biggest test since taking charge, with Nashville needing to overcome their regular-season struggles that saw them finish sixth despite recruiting experienced forwards like Sam Surridge (23 goals) and striker Tyler Boyd.
Last 5 Matches Form
| Nashville SC | Inter Miami |
|---|---|
| L – Inter Miami 3-1 Nashville (Playoff Game 1) | W – Inter Miami 3-1 Nashville (Playoff Game 1) |
| L – Nashville 0-1 Orlando City | W – Inter Miami 2-0 Chicago Fire |
| D – Nashville 1-1 Houston Dynamo | W – Inter Miami 2-1 New York City FC |
| L – Nashville 0-2 Atlanta United | W – Inter Miami 3-1 D.C. United |
| D – Nashville 0-0 New York Red Bulls | W – Inter Miami 1-0 Philadelphia Union |
Nashville vs Inter Miami Head to Head
Inter Miami holds complete dominance over Nashville SC in their playoff history, winning the only playoff meeting decisively 3-1 in Game 1.
In regular-season matchups, Inter Miami have won 5 of 8 meetings with 1 draw and 2 Nashville victories, demonstrating their superior quality but also indicating Nashville can occasionally trouble the Florida-based club.
| Matches Played | Nashville Wins | Inter Miami Wins | Draws | Nashville Goals | Inter Miami Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 15 |
- 2025 Playoff: Inter Miami 3-1 Nashville (Game 1, Oct 24)
Nashville vs Inter Miami Current Team News
Nashville SC Team News
Midfielder Hany Mukhtar remains the creative heartbeat with 16 goals and 11 assists despite a challenging season, scoring a brilliant free-kick in Game 1 stoppage time to give hope for Game 2.
Forward Sam Surridge leads the attack with 23 goals in the regular season, supported by experienced striker Teal Bunbury (20 appearances) and Jacob Shaffelburg (3 goals).
Defender Walker Zimmerman (32 years old, 20 appearances) captains the back line alongside Jack Maher and Josh Bauer, while goalkeeper Joe Willis (37 years old, 33 appearances, 89 saves) will look to replicate his excellent Game 1 performance. No major injury concerns reported ahead of Game 2.
Inter Miami CF Team News
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi (38 years old) continues to defy age with his exceptional form, scoring twice in Game 1 and recently signing a new contract through the end of the 2025 season.
Luis Suárez (38 years old) remains a constant threat with 11 assists in the regular season and scored many crucial goals throughout the campaign, providing the assist for Messi’s opening goal in Game 1.
Midfielder Sergio Busquets provides a defensive shield and passing range, alongside Rodrigo De Paul’s creative support, while Jordi Alba (33 years old) continues providing attacking width down the left flank.
Goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo impressed with distribution in Game 1, while defenders Ian Fray, Noah Allen, and Maximiliano Falcón maintained a clean organization at the back despite the attacking threat.
Current Possible Starting Lineups
Nashville SC Predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
- Willis; Zimmerman, Maher, Bauer, Lovitz; Acosta, Brugman; Mukhtar, Tagseth, Surridge; Alex Muyl
Inter Miami CF Predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
- Ríos Novo; Fray, Allen, Falcón, Alba; Busquets, De Paul; Allende, Messi, Rodríguez; Suárez
Key Players
Nashville SC
- Hany Mukhtar (Midfielder) – 16 goals, 11 assists; scored a crucial stoppage-time free-kick in Game 1; must deliver set-piece quality and creativity
- Sam Surridge (Forward) – 23 regular-season goals; must lead the attack and create space for supporting strikers against Inter Miami’s experienced defense
Inter Miami CF
- Lionel Messi (Forward) – 2025 MLS Golden Boot winner with 29 goals; scored twice in Game 1 and remains the most dangerous player on the pitch.
- Luis Suárez (Forward) – 11 assists in regular season; veteran striker with championship experience who provides physical presence and finishing threat
- Sergio Busquets (Midfielder) – Former Barcelona captain provides midfield control and defensive stability to shield Inter Miami’s backline
Nashville vs Inter Miami Match Prediction
Inter Miami is heavily favored to complete the playoff sweep and move on to the Conference Semifinals. Their Game 1 dominance, the outstanding form of Messi and Suárez (despite their age), and Javier Mascherano’s sharp tactical organization provide them with a clear edge.
Nashville must overcome their regular-season struggles and the absence of any real attacking fluidity beyond Mukhtar’s set-piece threats. While the home crowd at GEODIS Park will provide support and Nashville showed some resilience in Game 1 with their consolation goal, Inter Miami’s superior technical quality and experience in high-pressure situations should see them through.
Expect Inter Miami to control possession and limit Nashville’s opportunities, likely securing victory with clinical finishing from their superstar attacking pair.
- Predicted Score: Nashville 1-2 Inter Miami (Inter Miami advances 2-0 in series)
Where to Watch the Nashville vs Inter Miami
United States:
- TV: FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes
- Streaming: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV), FOX Sports App, ESPN+
- Kick-off: 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT
Canada:
- TV: TSN, TSN Direct
- Streaming: TSN+, MLS Season Pass
- Kick-off: 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT
Australia:
- Streaming: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV), Kayo Sports
- Kick-off: 10:30 AM AEDT (Sunday)
United Kingdom & Ireland:
- Streaming: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV), ESPN+
- Kick-off: 12:30 AM GMT (Sunday)
Europe:
- Streaming: MLS Season Pass (Apple TV), ESPN+
- Kick-off: 1:30 AM CET / 12:30 AM GMT (Sunday)
Latin America:
- USA Spanish: FOX Deportes, FOX Sports App
- Mexico: ESPN México, Star+
- Brazil: ESPN Brasil
- Argentina: ESPN Argentina, Star+
Streaming Worldwide: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (no blackouts), ESPN+ where available, local MLS broadcast partners.