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The second matchday for Group A kicks off tomorrow afternoon with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami taking on Portuguese side FC Porto. Kickoff begins at 3 PM ET, so prepare for another round of competition, but only after reviewing my in-depth review of the game before deciding whether you want to fade or follow my pick!
Inter Miami sits in 6th place in the MLS Eastern Conference with 29 points, a +9 goal differential and an 8-5-3 record. While they put in a hard-fought campaign in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, they fell 5-1 on aggregate after two legs in the Semifinals against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Their MLS season is now on hold as they take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, where their first match against Al Ahly ended in a 0-0 draw. This game will be another tough test for Miami, as Porto is nothing less than solid opposition.
Of course, Lionel Messi not only leads his team in goal scoring but sits in 5th place on the charts with 10 goals and 6 assists in 13 games in the MLS. There’s no doubt he’ll be looking for his first Club World Cup goal for Miami tonight, and I expect him to net at 1+ goals. On top of Messi’s efforts, midfielder Tadeo Allende has 6 goals in the MLS after just 13 games, and striker Luis Suarez boasts 5 goals and 7 assists in 13 games.
FC Porto stands in 3rd place in Lia Portugal with 71 points, a +35 goal differential, and a 22-5-7 record, securing a spot in the 2025/2026 Champions League tournament. Porto were knocked out in the 4th round of the Taca de Portugal (Portuguese Cup) on a 2-1 scoreline to Moreirense. Hopefully, the Club World Cup will treat them differently, although nothing is earned without being hard-fought. Their start in the first round of the Club World Cup group stage was lackluster, ending 0-0 against Palmeiras with no goals scored by either side. I expect things to turn around against Inter Miami.
Samu Omorodian leads the charge for his team with 19 goals in 30 games in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, and we expect him to net the team’s first goal tonight in the competition. Rodrigo Mora followed with 10 goals in 23 games throughout the season, while Galeno ended with 8 goals in 18 games under his belt. Defender Moura finished second on the assist charts with 10 overall, with teammate Martim Fernades assisting 6 times before the end of the season. If Porto can get the early lead with 1+ goals today from Omorodian, Porto may be able to take home their first Group A win in the Club World Cup.
FC Porto has much more international experience with the UEFA Champions League than Inter Miami opponents, but with Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez backing the team, Miami is certainly a strong contender coming from the MLS. Either way, I expect Miami’s Lionel Messi and Porto’s Omorodian to score at 1+ goals, with the game likely ending in a draw.
Liam has been a major sports fan and soccer player for over a decade, with a particular focus on major top-level soccer leagues, including the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and MLS. He has written numerous promotional articles for various top sportsbooks and continues to publish historical and factual sports articles covering the NFL, MLS, NHL, MLB, EPL and more.