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The Herons Fly Into A-Town
+ the playoff push

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
TOMORROW’S MATCHDAY
vs. Atlanta United
Start time: 5:09 PM EST
Where to watch: Saturday, Sept. 16, 5:00 p.m. | Apple TV - MLS Season Pass
Matches To Monitor: Chicago Fire vs. CF Montreal, Saturday, Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m. Apple TV - MLS Season Pass
Good Morning! The Herons have flown north to take on Atlanta United tomorrow in a critical match that will have massive playoff implications. Turf field aside, a win will put Miami in an ideal spot for the post-season with just seven regular season matches to go.
Will they be able to pull it off in front of what will be a sell-out crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium?
In the email today:
🤔 Should Leo Campana or Josef Martinez Start Up Top?
💪 Miami’s Playoff Push
👑😡 Josef Set To Be Honored by Atlanta United
📊 Poll: Which Formation Suits the Herons Best?
🔗 Link Roundup
1) 🤔 Should Leo Campana or Josef Martinez Start Up Top?
There has been a lot of debate about who should start up top for Miami in this new era. Alongside Messi, the second striker is arguably the most important position on the field if the Herons want to make their attack click.
Head coach Tata Martino seems to favor Josef Martinez, a player he knows from his time at Atlanta United where they demolished most of the league on their way to winning MLS Cup in 2018. However, the young Ecuadorian forward, Leo Campana, has made it clear that he wants the position for himself on the pitch.
Though Martinez has more experience, he’s not quite clicked with this revamped Miami side.
Campana has shown that he can be the ideal starting forward for this Miami team. His two-goal performance against Sporting KC showed that the 23-year-old is hungry to prove he can lead the attacking front line.
Ultimately, it will be Martino’s tactical inclinations that decide who starts.
Our take: Campana is, without a doubt, the most in-form striker for Miami at the moment. His big frame is perfect for hold-up play, he’s great in the air, and also clinical in the final third - a perfect compliment to Messi’s playing style.
2) 💪 Miami’s Playoff Push

Inter Miami will face a new-look Atlanta United as they look to close the gap on ninth place in the Eastern Conference.
Messi, who sat out Argentina's last World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, will be refreshed and ready.
Atlanta United’s summer signings Xande Silva, Saba Lobjanidze, Tristan Muyumba, and Jamal Thiaré have given the Five Stripes a reset in attack.
Inter Miami sits 14th in the Eastern on 28 points.
A Miami win on Saturday will see them earn 31 points.
Our take: Miami's unbeaten run dates back to July 15th when they suffered a 3-0 defeat to St. Louis City. Despite facing a strong opponent in Atlanta with fellow Argentinian Thiago Almada leading the way, Miami will have Messi back in their line-up. It's hard to imagine the Herons losing on Saturday given their current form.
3) 👑😡 Josef Set To Be Honored by Atlanta United
Atlanta United will honor Josef Martinez before Saturday’s match
— Doug Roberson (@DougRobersonAJC)
11:44 PM • Sep 13, 2023
During his time with Atlanta from 2017 to 2022, the 30-year-old enjoyed his most successful and productive period in MLS.
Martinez managed to score an impressive 106 goals in 155 appearances, leading Atlanta United to an MLS Cup victory in 2018, as well as a US Open Cup and Campeones Cup triumph in 2019.
4) 📊 Poll: Which Formation Suites The Herons Best?
What Is The Ideal Formation For Inter Miami?Choose one: |
Have additional thoughts? Reply directly to this email to comment, and see if we include your response on Monday!
5) 🔗 Link Roundup
👶 Thiago Messi was spotted making his debut with Inter Miami’s U12 Academy team. Like father, like son - eh?
🕹️EA FC’s (no, it’s not called FIFA anymore..) ratings dropped yesterday, and several Inter Miami players are among of the highest rated in all of MLS.
👨MLS Commissioner Don Garber will be in attendance for tomorrow’s game.
The newsletter today was written by: Alex Windley @aaw_1998
Thanks for reading! Catch you on the flip side!