• The inaugural Leagues Cup tournament kicks off on Friday, July 21 with teams from MLS and Liga MX competing
• The highlight match of Day 1 no doubt will feature Inter Miami and Lionel Messi hosting Cruz Azul
• Read on for our Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul prediction here

A brand new tournament is upon us which pits all 47 teams from MLS and Liga MX together into a World Cup-style tournament from July 21-August 19, 2023. Five matches get things started on Friday and none more intriguing that the one at DRV PNK Stadium at 8:00 pm EST. Arguably to the game’s greatest all-time player Lionel Messi will make his debut for the Herons and we have all of the Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul odds and picks for the match here.

This is the game everyone will be talking about. Not only is Messi set to debut, but so too is Sergio Busquets, one of Messi’s ex-Barcelona teammates. Both players have been in training this week and should be available for selection from head coach Tata Martino.

Miami has also signed another ex-Barca player, Jordi Alba. Though with the deal just completed he will not feature on Friday.

Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul Odds

The home team Miami are basically even-money favorites in Messi’s MLS debut at -102 odds for a win in regulation. That gives them an implied probability of 50.50% to win the match. The total of 2.5 is slightly juiced to the Over at -127, while the Under is -110. Odds from BetMGM on July 20.

Before making your Leagues Cup bets, be sure to get your hands on the latest BetMGM promo code and claim a top sportsbook bonus.

When making your Leagues Cup wagers, it’s important to note the points system of this tournament. Teams will get three points for winning in regulation. If the game is tied, it will go straight to penalty kicks and each team will receive one point. The winner of the shootout will receive one extra point, thus receiving two points.

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How to Watch Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul

Viewers can watch Friday’s Miami Leagues Cup match with Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass or on Univision at 8:00 pm EST.

Can Messi Spark a Miami Win In Leagues Cup?

Everyone is expecting Messi to revitalize Inter and take MLS by storm. And he may. But this is the worst team he’s ever been a part of. Miami is dead last in MLS at 5-3-14 and haven’t won in 11 games. They just lost 3-0 in their last game to expansion side St. Louis last weekend, the first with Tata Martino on the sidelines as their new head coach.

Miami has been outscored 36-22 this season and their xG of 20.9 is easily the worst in the league. Only two teams in MLS have created fewer shots and only four have put less shots on target. Miami is currently 12 points adrift of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with 12 games to go once MLS resumes play after the Leagues Cup. So it would take a gargantuan effort from Messi and friends to get the Herons over the line in the next few months.

Lionel Messi’s arrival marks the dawn of a new era for soccer in the United States pic.twitter.com/hdBFV7svBF

— CNN (@CNN) July 18, 2023

So what positives can we look for? Well, the atmosphere at DRV PNK will surely be electric. Of Miami’s five wins, four have come at home where they are 4-2-5 and have an even 15 goals scored and 15 conceded. Of those 11 home games, they’ve scored in nine of them.

Miami do have some capable strikers in 2018 Golden Boot winner Josef Martinez who leads the team with six goals, plus Leonardo Campana who’s second with four. If Messi can help to shore up the midfield that suffered injuries to key players earlier in the season and Busquets can help on the defensive side of the ball, they could start to turn things around. If you think Messi makes an instant impact and gets on the scoresheet, Messi to be an anytime scorer is priced at +115 in the Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul odds.

Inter Miami has also already shown some success when playing outside of MLS this season. In the US Open Cup they’ve advanced to the semifinals after beating Miami FC, Charleston Battery, Nashville SC and Birmingham Legion. Albeit, three of those four are USL teams. This will be a different challenge stepping up to play a team from a league generally considered to be at a higher level than MLS.

Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul Head-to-Head Stats

Cruz Azul Also Struggling In Liga MX

But Miami may be getting the perfect team for Messi and others to get their feet wet against to start off the Leagues Cup.

Mexico’s Cruz Azul are also last in Liga MX. It’s only been three games in the new Apertura season but they are 0-0-3 and have been outscored 6-1.

They were mid-pack last year, 8th in the Clausura and 7th in the Apertura.

Their xG of 2.0 is also last after three games, and they’ve created the third-fewest shots and shots on target in the league.

La Maquina opened their Apertura campaign with 2-0 losses to Atlas and Toluca, prior to last week’s 2-1 loss to Club Tijuana. Ignacio Rivero scored in that match making him their current scoring leader with one goal.

Meanwhile, Cruz Azul will welcome back Uriel Antuna and Carlos Rodriguez who just won the Gold Cup with Mexico.

Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul Team Lineups and Injuries

While everyone will be excited to see Messi in the lineup, new players rarely walk straight into the starting XI. So for these purposes we won’t include Messi and Busquets in the potential starting lineups. However, Martino has indicated that both will see time on Friday.

Inter Miami Projected Lineup: Callender; Allen, Miller, Kryvtsov, Fray; Arroyo; Robinson, Sunderland, Cremaschi, Taylor; Martinez

Injuries & absences: Mota, Gregore, Negri, Jean

Cruz Azul Projected Lineup: Gudino; Rivero, Salcedo, Ditta, Huescas; Castano, Lira; Moises, Rotondi, Tabo; Cambindo Abonia

Injuries & absences: Escobar, Vargas

Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul Prediction

I’m not about to just dive into the Messi mayhem before I see how this new-look Miami team plays. But I do think they can score. Miami had scored in each of their six previous games before last weekend, scoring multiple goals twice.

And Cruz Azul has conceded in seven straight going back to last season, conceding multiple goals in six of those seven.

Miami’s xGA of 34.4 is 25th in MLS. The 118 shots on target they’ve allowed is 28th.

Cruz Azul’s xGA of 5.9 ranks 16th (of 18 teams), while the 15 shots on target they’ve allowed through three games ranks 15th.

Hard to trust either team to keep a clean sheet here so let’s back both teams to score at -130 in the Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul odds.

Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul Picks: Both Teams to Score (-130) at Caesars Sportsbook

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