Looking at the upcoming match between Toronto FC and Inter Miami CF, it's clear we've got a tense showdown on our hands. On the goalkeeper front, Toronto FC's Sean Johnson seems to have a slight edge over Drake Callender of Inter Miami CF, but his two additional saves may ultimately be a moot point in light of the team's disparities elsewhere.
Now, let's talk catchers. For Inter Miami CF we have the inevitable Lionel Messi, who's been flaunting a sturdy 7.96 rating with 5 goals and 10 shots on goal to boot. He and his compatriots Jordi Alba with an 82.6% accurate pass rate, and Franco Negri, leaner on the shots but maintaining a 79.6 accurate pass rate, seem to compose a formidable front line.
Toronto FC's stars, on the other hand, have their own charms, just arguably a bit dimmer. Federico Bernardeschi, Lorenzo Insigne, and Jonathan Osorio are their standouts, with the latter managing a noteworthy single goal and 2 shots on goal, alongside an 88% accurate pass rate. I wouldn't downplay Bernardeschi's and Insigne's contributions, but compared to the likes of Messi, they might as well be sending smoke signals to alien civilizations for all the demand there's liable to be on them.
Digging a little deeper into the history books, we find that Inter Miami CF seems to have something of a winning streak against Toronto FC, with only one minor slip-up in the last four encounters. I mean, four times out of five, the vending machine gives you your soda; the fifth time, it steals your dollar. That's life.
In terms of recent performance, it's clear that Inter Miami CF has found a comfortable if not dominant rhythm, while Toronto FC seems to be having a harder time at the dance, stutter stepping rather than twirling through matches.
Adding all of this together paints a sorely vivid picture. It would be like walking into a test after a week-long cram session vs. walking in after having missed half the classes and STILL thinking you'll ace it. No sir, our gut here tells us Toronto FC...well, it's going to be a tough night.
Without further ado:
Albert’s Prediction: Inter Miami CF by 1