On March 16, Sunday Night Soccer will premiere the first installment of Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami CF this season, a fixture that has grown fiercer by the match. The two clubs are destinations of footballing talent on the East Coast, each with difference makers all over the pitch. The amount of premier talent that could be on display for this game just might be the most on any pitch in this MLS regular season.
Atlanta United is 4-1-1 in their last six matches against Inter Miami, but Miami comes into the match smoking hot. They haven't lost in 11 matches, including preseason friendlies. The last time they lost a match was a game that 17s need no reminder to remember — Atlanta's 3-2 road victory in game three of the Round One Best-of-3 Series last fall in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. But we'll get to that later!
Not to mention, the man partially responsible for Atlanta United's highly-touted offseason, Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson, will watch his squad play against the club he just left. All that being said, this one will be can't miss. Who knows what will happen? Let's go to the history books and take a look back at some of the best iterations of this matchup:
The first victory
Atlanta United and Inter Miami drew their first three games against one another, and it was the 5-Stripes who earned the first win in the series' history on Sept. 29, 2021. Former MLS MVP Josef Martínez scored the lone goal, a penalty kick. It wasn't just any other goal, though — it was Martínez's 100th for Atlanta United in all competitions. He was the first player to ever hit that mark for the club and is still the top scorer in its history.
Atlanta United controlled the rest of the game to secure a positive result on Martínez's big day. The 5-Stripes held nearly 62% of possession, fired off 19 shots and didn't allow a single shot on goal.
Five past them in 2023
September 16, 2023 was goalfest as Atlanta United scored five in a 5-2 win over Miami at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Despite a brace from Leonardo Campana, the 5-Stripes earned three points thanks to multiple moments of history. It was the sixth time ever that Atlanta scored five or more goals in the game. The first three goals — scored by way of Tristan Muyumba, an own goal on a Xande Silva shot and Brooks Lennon — were scored in eight minutes. It tied the second-fastest time Atlanta United had scored three goals in club history.
Former midfielder Thiago Almada recorded his 15th assist, a secondary assist, on Atlanta United's fourth goal as he became the single-season record holder for assists.
Coincidentally, Josef Martínez made an appearance against Atlanta United in this match, playing 14 minutes off the bench for Inter Miami. It was his second substitute appearance against his former club that season and his first time back in front of the Atlanta United faithful.
Messi’s first Atlanta L
Lionel Messi didn't play despite having signed to the club by the second fixture of the 2023 season. His debut match against Atlanta United came at Chase Stadium on May 29, 2024, and the 5-Stripes got the best of the matchup. Saba Lobajnidze had a brace, and Jamal Thiaré added a third in a 3-1 victory where Messi scored the lone goal for Miami.
More history unfolded that night. Atlanta United registered its 100th win in club history. Meanwhile, Messi lost a game in which he scored for the first time since Argentina's 2022 World Cup defeat to Saudi Arabia. The 5-Stripes delivered a blow that hadn't happened in a about year and a half.
How did they pull it off? They threw everything at goal. Atlanta United had 24 shots, eight of which were on target for 2.8 expected goals. On the other end, goalkeeper Josh Cohen made his first start and earned his first win, making four saves to lift the 5-Stripes.
A rivalry is born
Who could forget last season's Eastern Conference Best-of-3 Series? I'm throwing all three games into this one section, because it was all so dang good. It was firmly one of the best upsets in MLS Cup Playoff history, and every game went down to the wire.
Game 1 went to Miami 2-1 despite eight saves from Brad Guzan. Game 2 was the opposite scoreline, as Derrick Williams found goal with header and Silva scored a 94th-minute winner.
But it was game three that was the crown jewel of the series. Messi found the score sheet, but a Thiaré brace and a 76th-minute goal from Bartosz Slisz completed the upset for Atlanta. The leaping header on a seemingly improbable run into the box was just the midfielder's second goal of the season. The shocked Miami fans looked on, and 17s everywhere rejoiced as the 5-Stripes upset the Supporters' Shield winners.
One thing is for certain: Inter Miami has something to prove against Atlanta. They've only picked up one win and one draw in their last six against the 5-Stripes, and the win was in a series loss to the 5-Stripes. Atlanta United will, of course, have a blank slate heading into the match, knowing that past results mean nothing. It all goes down Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET.
